Failing to Waterproof Your Basement Could Lead to Significant Issues
Posted on: 7 May 2020
If you have a home with an unfinished basement, you might have plans to eventually hire a contractor or two and turn it into a room you'll enjoy being in. But even if that day is some time down the line, there's at least one project in your basement you don't want to wait to complete, and that's making sure it's waterproof. Here's why basement waterproofing is important for every homeowner and not just for people who live in areas prone to floods.
Water in Your Foundation Can Lead to Cracks
If you live in a part of the country that is not prone to flooding, you might think basement waterproofing isn't worth the investment. But it doesn't take a literal flood of water for real structural damage to occur to your home. If your basement is not waterproof and even a little bit of water gets trapped by the home's foundation, this water could expand or contract as the temperature changes. Over time, this movement could lead to cracks in your house's foundation. Having to fix your foundation is a much more expensive project than a basement waterproofing job, plus you would not want your family to live in a house where the foundation is unstable. Completing your home basement waterproofing now will save you from a headache later.
Mold and Mildew Could Cause Illness or Something Worse
If moisture is able to seep into your basement even a little bit after every rain, it's likely that this lingering moisture will eventually cause the development of mold or mildew. Exposing your family to this kind of environment is obviously not ideal and could lead to illness or allergic reactions. Things could get even worse though if someone in your family has asthma or another respiratory condition. You don't want someone with a health problem to encounter mold or mildew and trigger some kind of health attack. Basement waterproofing will keep your walls dry and mold and mildew at bay.
A Dry Basement Can Help With Energy Costs
Having a basement or foundation that gets damp after it rains could be affecting your energy bill in a couple of different ways. Excess moisture could make your house more humid and difficult to cool during the summer and it's possible that cold air could be getting into the basement and making the house more difficult to heat in the winter. Basement waterproofing costs money of course, but you could actually see long-term savings thanks to the lower costs of your HVAC bills year after year.
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