Signs of water infiltration in the basement: Problems and solutions
Published on January 4, 2016
4 mins reading time
Suspecting water infiltration problems in your basement? Pinpoint clues, identify problems and apply solutions. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals.
Indoor signs of excess humidity or water infiltration
- Overall humidity levels in the house (hygrometer reading constantly above 50%).
- A persistent musty or earthy odour that you notice whenever you go down into the basement.
- Mould: “furry” or powdery deposits that have recently appeared, ranging in colour from pale green to brown or black. Careful: some may be hidden underneath a covering such as a floor or wall.
- Whitish crystalline deposits on concrete surfaces, Known as efflorescence, they are a sign that moisture is seeping into the concrete, dissolving the salts that it contains, and causing them to leach through to the surface on the basement side.
- Stains that have recently appeared on finished surfaces.
- “Sweating” on concrete walls or the concrete slab.
- Cracks appearing in the foundation.
- Water pooling on the floor.
- Orange-ish water seeping in.
- Ochre-coloured deposits along the bottom of the foundation walls or on the slab.
- Ochre-coloured water in the floor drain (sump pit).
Mould? Beware the health effects!
Be very careful of mould, the microscopic fungi that grow on humid materials. To develop, mould requires only moisture and organic material to “feed” on: wood, paper, carpet, etc. It releases spores, which are particles that can induce symptoms such as:
irritation of the eyes;
coughing and runny nose;
wheezing;
shortness of breath; or
asthma and allergic reactions.
This means you need to take action quickly!
Outdoor signs of poor foundation drainage
Frequent and constant accumulation of water near the house.
Water infiltration: What if your drain or foundation weren’t to blame?
They may instead point to one or more of the following problems. Read on to learn more about each one.