Rainy Season Signs Your Basement Needs Foundation Repair in Kansas City

Most people live in a region with a clearly-defined rainy season - the time when most of its average rainfall occurs.

If you live in Kansas City, where PierMagic is based, then you see the most rain in May and June, although April, July, August, and September give them a run for their money. During these months, you are most likely to experience a wet basement, which could be a warning sign that you need foundation repair in Kansas City. If you don’t live in Kansas City, your farmer’s almanac or a quick Internet search can tell you when your rainiest season occurs.

Consider these signs that you may need to call a professional to address your basement concerns.

Your Basement Walls Are Damp

Wet basement walls can be caused by natural occurrences like condensation or by cracks in the walls. Condensation forms from water vapors that rise from the ground below your foundation, whereas cracks in your foundation simply let water inside your home.

If you have damp walls, discover the cause by looking carefully at your foundation, looking for things like cracks in the basement wall. If you’re still not sure, a basement foundation repair specialist from PierMagic can advise you.

You See Efflorescence on Your Basement Walls

Maybe you haven’t lived in your house through a rainy season to know whether your basement takes on water during periods of heavy rains. But efflorescence might be able to tell you what you need to know.

Efflorescence is that white residue that forms on unfinished basement walls made of porous brick, stone, or concrete. It appears because moisture travels through them, carrying dissolved minerals to the surface.

This build up is a sign of dampness in your basement - and remember that if your basement is damp, you may have cracks in your basement walls that let water seep in.

Standing Water Is a Problem

It can be hard to spot damp walls in your basement, but standing water is easy to see. Standing water can come in from cracks in your basement, but it also can come in around basement windows or up through the floor because of a high water table.

Call a home foundation repair company to learn more about why your basement may be taking on water.

Your Basement Has a Musty Smell

No, basements should not smell musty! Musty odors coming from your basement are a big indicator that you have a water problem. Unfortunately, many people hold the belief that basements simply have this smell, and they accept it without asking an expert concrete foundation repair specialist to weigh in.

That musty smell not only means that water is seeping into your basement, but it also indicates you may have mildew, too. If you want your basement to smell fresh, you have to locate the source of the odor, such as cracks in the basement walls or floors.

Mold Is Growing In Your Basement

If your basement smells musty, and you can see mold, then you know for sure your home has a wet basement and is likely suffering from foundation problems that need to be addressed before they take a toll on your or your family’s health. In fact, certain types of mold, like the infamous and dangerous black mold, can grow in basements just like yours due to excess moisture.

If you have mold growing in your damp basement, you’ll need two services: basement waterproofing with foundation repairs, plus mold remediation.

Catching Basement Wetness in the Act

If your basement isn’t finished, or if the dampness has made it unpleasant, you’re likely not spending much time down there. But if you don’t spend time there regularly, how are you supposed to see how water is entering your basement?

Consider these methods:

1. Set up an inexpensive security camera, aiming it toward trouble areas during periods of heavy rain. Video could capture the problem in detail. Just be sure it’s plugged in far away from the water source.
2. Pay careful attention to the weather, checking 10-day forecasts and following up on daily weather reports. As you approach periods of rain, make it a point to visit your basement and track the progress where dampness or standing water begins to form. On days with extremely heavy rains, you may even see water flowing into your basement via cracks!

Leave Wet Basements and Foundation Repair to the Pros at PierMagic

If you’re concerned that your house may need a foundation repair solution or basement waterproofing, you’re entitled to a free consultation from PierMagic, Kansas City’s premier foundation specialists.

All you have to do is call or email us about your home’s problem, and one of our technicians will visit, check it out, and propose solutions that will help keep your house standing strong.