“…the No.1 kind of risk that the everyday consumer has is a water claim,” USAA Assistant Vice-President of P&C Innovation Jon-Mike Kowall told Wall Street Journal.

We hope you find yourself dry when walking down your basement stairs, but with statistics as high as 1 in 50 homeowners needing waterproofing contract work at some point, this frustrating scenario could unfortunately play out sooner rather than later for you. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the basics of basement waterproofing.

Why is my basement leaking?

Sometimes the cause of a basement leak is obvious, like a broken pipe, a faulty water heater, or a leaking window. In some cases, the answer is not so simple. One of the most common causes of water penetration in basements is a leaking foundation. Water can seep in through cracks and mortar joints, through porous concrete walls, or over or under the footer. As the foundation ages over time, the initial methods used for basement waterproofing will slowly deteriorate and need to be updated.

I don’t see any leaking water, but my basement smells musty.

As your basement’s initial waterproofing means begin to slowly erode, water can start seeping in through tiny cracks and porous concrete. It then settles into your walls, which generates humidity and causes the musty smell. It can also lead to mold and serious wall damage if not properly addressed.

What are my options for waterproofing my basement?

There are a number of different ways to waterproof your basement. You may even be tempted to DIY. While many treatments do stop the leaking water temporarily, you might find yourself right back where you were sooner rather than later. This is due to the fact that most methods of waterproofing do not address all of the many ways that water can enter your basement.

Aqua-Guard’s system does just that! We effectively counter all of the risk factors of water seepage that other systems don’t address. In all of our years of service, Aqua-Guard Waterproofing has never had a system failure or breach of warranty. You can expect this same level of service and commitment when we address and repair leaking water in your basement.