Many homeowners deal with basement leaks no matter the time of year. This issue can become even more widespread and urgent during the summer months, though. It’s a good idea to know what to look for so you can be proactive in preventing inconvenient and damaging basement leaks during all seasons. Here’s a quick guide to five of the most common causes of basement leaks in summer.
1. High Outdoor Humidity
High outdoor humidity is one of the most common causes of basement leaks in summer. This is especially true if your home is located in a particularly humid area like the Southeast. When the humidity outdoors rises, the concentration of moisture in the ground also rises. This moisture in the ground could find its way into cracks in your foundation and eventually into your basement.
Additionally, humid air could condense and soak through the drywall in your basement. Both scenarios often result in basement leaks followed by increased indoor humidity levels.
2. Clogged Gutters and Downspouts
If summer rolls around and you haven’t cleared out your gutters or downspouts yet, they’re likely still stuffed full with leaves and debris from the fall and winter. This typically means that rainwater won’t be properly diverted away from your home and your home’s foundation. This is a problem for all seasons, but it’s even more of a problem if you live somewhere that gets a lot of heavy summer rain.
When water isn’t properly directed to the nearest storm drain, you run the risk of it pooling around your home’s foundation. This can cause massive amounts of pressure to build up, which often seeps through small cracks and leads to active basement leaks in summer. You can prevent this from becoming a problem by making sure your gutters are clear and your downspouts are connected correctly.
3. Faulty Window Wells
Another aspect of your home that might give you trouble and lead to basement leaks when it rains during the summer includes the window wells around your basement windows. Without proper maintenance and grading, the window wells can become cracked and the seams may leak. This often leads to (you guessed it) basement leaks via the windows in your basement.
Skip this issue altogether by making sure your window wells are in good shape and caulking any seams that need to be reinforced.
4. Foundation Cracks
After your home’s foundation has spent all winter and likely part of the spring expanding and contracting based on the harsh cold air, it may have a few small cracks by the beginning of summer. As we mentioned before, water that’s soaking the ground around your home can easily find its way into these cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation. This often results in basement leaks in summer.
5. Air Leakage
Warm air tends to rise as a general rule. Since there’s an abundance of warm air during the summer, this air actually rises and creates negative pressure on your home’s basement. When this happens, humid, wet air can be pulled into cracks in your foundation. You probably already know where we’re going with this, but that can certainly lead to a basement leak in the summer.
Even though basements are often prone to leaking during the hottest and coldest times of the year, it’s essential to keep an eye out for leaks in your basement year-round. Whether you’ve already identified an active leak or you want to prevent one from springing up in the future, contact us here at Aqua-Guard Waterproofing so we can evaluate your unique situation and put together a professional waterproofing plan for your basement and crawlspace that provides a complete, lasting solution.