Why Winter Storms Can Be Trouble for Your Basement

Summer is gone, winter is approaching, and you’re probably taking some time to do a little maintenance around your house in anticipation of upcoming bad weather. You’ve probably switched your ceiling fan, brought in your patio furniture, gotten rid of some dangerous-looking limbs, and done other chores to get your house ready. But have you thought about your basement? You might not realize it, but winter can be rough on a basement.

• Rain and snow can send moisture into the basement. The soil around a home’s foundation is not as firmly packed as the rest of your property, because it was removed and replaced when the home was being built. Because it’s less packed, it’s more porous, so it’s easy for water to collect in it and flow through it. Whether from a severe rainstorm or melting snow, that water can seep into your basement through cracks in the foundation, which occur in most houses as they age and settle. It’s important to have these cracks repaired before winter storms hit.
• Your gutters could cause a problem. If your gutter system is poorly designed or clogged, you’ll have more water pouring into the ground around your house than the water coming from the sky or the melting snow. One of the first steps in keeping your basement dry is making sure the ground around your home is sloping away from the house, and that the gutters and downspouts are diverting water away from your foundation.
• Your basement may be vulnerable because of hydrostatic pressure. This is the pressure that groundwater exerts on your home’s support structures, and when combined with the gravity it can exert a great deal of force. This force can create cracks in your foundation that eventually allow water to seep into your basement.
• Know the signs of a damp basement. It’s not always as clear-cut as standing water in the basement or puddles on the floor. If there’s a musty smell in your basement or the humidity is high, you may have a leaky basement. Insect infestations or signs of mold or mildew are also indicative of a moisture problem, as are white or grey salt deposits on the walls or floor. Your walls may bow inward or outward, and they may begin to show signs of cracking. If you notice any of these signs, call a professional to evaluate the situation and make recommendations.

If your basement needs waterproofing, Reliable Basement Services can help. A family-owned and operated company, we’ve served the greater Chicagoland area for more than ten years. We offer a full spectrum of basement services, charging reasonable rates for work that includes crack repairs, sump pump systems, basement waterproofing, basement windows, and floor repair. Our consistently high standards have made us an award-winning Chicago basement waterproofing contractor and earned us thousands of satisfied customers all over Chicago. For more information, call (630) 318-4888 or visit our website for a free quote.