Severe storms can be violent, pop up fast, and drop a lot of rain in a short amount of time, making it hard to control your basement humidity level in the summer. As your local basement waterproofing experts, we see a lot of foundation damage in the summer and fall that comes from the extremes of summer weather. Now is the time to inspect your basement or crawlspace, address existing problems, and establish the protection your home needs to prevent bowed walls, damaged property, and rising basement water that can leave the rest of your home sitting on shaky ground.
Summer Weather Fluctuations
Summer can be rough on your basement because it’s so harsh on the land your home sits on. Blistering heat dries out the soil, creating voids and pockets surrounded by dirt and clay baked hard under the summer sun. When storms happen, often accompanied by deluges of rain, the soil may not be able to absorb as much as is needed, and surface-level waterways may not be able to drain away excess water fast enough, leading to flooding. Under the ground, voids may have formed around your basement walls, ready to trap more water against them, or soil may have shifted while dry, leaving the weight once it’s rehydrated no longer properly distributed.
Dangers of High Basement Humidity Levels in the Summer
High summer basement humidity can lead to big repair and remediation bills, even if your basement never floods. Wet, damp air can lead to condensation that damages your home’s structure and personal property while attracting pests, like bugs and rodents, who want a cool, damp place to find food, shelter, and water. Wood can rot, stored papers can be damaged, and cloth can begin to mildew. Mold may even begin to form, not only damaging your property but releasing spores that can have far-reaching health consequences for your pets and loved ones. The cost of repairing damaged structures in your home, replacing personal property ruined by moisture, and paying professionals to eliminate pests and mold can quickly skyrocket, making prevention not a better choice for cost, convenience, and the health of your home and the people who live there.
Basement Waterproofing Controls High Summer Humidity Levels
Waterproofing your basement means sealing it to prevent the entry of moist air, installing active measures to move water away from your basement, and ensuring the land around your foundation is ready to absorb rain and channel it back into the local groundwater, not your basement.
- Check Your Gutters – Your gutter and downspout system collects the water from your roof, guides it to the ground, and moves it away from your home into your land’s natural drainage. As summer storms blow leaves, sticks, and trash around, and that can end up clogging your gutters or downspouts. When that happens, your gutters overflow, dropping the water directly next to your home’s foundation, where it has the highest risk of causing damage.
- Prepare Your Yard – Your land plays a big role in protecting your foundation. Make sure landscaping does not sit directly against your home where roots can cause damage or foliage can trap moisture. Your yard should be graded on a downward slope away from the home that drops at least one inch every foot away from the house for at least 5-10 feet where possible. This creates enough of an angle to put gravity to work, getting the water away from your foundation.
- Make Sure Your Foundation is Ready – Take the time to inspect your basement. Look for cracks in the walls and floors that could allow water to seep in. Check for bowing or leaning walls or any sign that the walls are pulling away from the floor. Cracks should be professionally repaired, and wall anchors should be used to support and secure walls that are no longer standing true on their own. Steel wall anchors stabilize the walls and, over time, restore them to their proper position.
- Install a Sump Pump – Your basement sump collects water that may be threatening to flood your foundation. The sump pump actively moves accumulated water out of the sump, away from your home, and toward natural groundwater drainage. A good sump pump is not only useful when dealing with high summer basement humidity levels but also leaks from plumbing and seepage.
- Seal It Up – Open vents, loose windows, and openings around pipes provide some of the most common routes for warm air to enter your cooler basement, raising humidity levels in the summer and leading to condensation, which deposits liquid moisture on any cool surface. Vents should remain closed, while windows and other openings should be weatherproofed to eliminate drafts. If your basement has direct outside access, those doors need to be checked and have their weather stripping replaced if necessary.
Contact a Basement Waterproofing Professional
One of the easiest ways to get your home’s foundation ready to withstand the summer storms is to work with a trusted and experienced basement waterproofing specialist. When you schedule a free inspection, one of our professionals will visit your home, check the basement, ensure summer humidity levels are being controlled, look for signs of damage, and help you understand your protection options to keep your family’s home safer. Our work is guaranteed for the lifetime of your home, protecting your investment in your property. Call for your no-cost, no-obligation visit from A.M. Wall Anchor & Waterproofing today.
