The best way to deal with water buildup around your foundation or in your basement is to install a sump pump system in your home. A sump pump will literally "pump" the water out of your basement and away from your foundation. Water collects in its tank until the tank is filled and then it is pumped out of your basement.
Optimizing a Sump Pump's Efficiency
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In order to optimize the efficiency of your sump pump it is vital to install an interior drainage system. Interior drainage systems are installed along your basement walls, acting like a gutter system. They help to steer the water that leaks into your basement into the tank of the sump pump system, ensuring that there is virtually no water in your basement or around your foundation.
Mold Growth
It is extremely easy for mold to grow in the presence of water. Mold and mold spores can be very hazardous to your family's health. A person's reaction to the presence of mold varies from person to person, but common effects are an increase in the likelihood of becoming sick or getting a sinus infection. With this said, however, the effects are known to be more severe for people with weak immune systems such as infants and elderly people.
In some severe cases, black mold can develop in your home. Black mold, also referred to as "toxic mold", is the worst type of mold. It poses severe health threats to your family like shortness of breath, sore throat, respiratory problems, sinus congestion, watery eyes, skin irritation, chronic fatigue, and even central nervous system problems. As you can see, it is not worth putting your family at risk of all the health related issues associated with mold and mold spores.
Foundation Cracks
Continual water buildup around your foundation creates pressure that can lead to foundation cracks. When you have cracks in your foundation, it becomes significantly easier for water to enter your basement and other below-grade spaces. If you don't have a properly installed sump pump system than this water will sit in your basement, causing water damage to your belongings and promoting mold growth.
Letting water sit by your foundation can cause the soil around the foundation to become soft. When the soil becomes soft, the heavy weight of your house begins to push down, making it sink deeper into the ground. When it does sink, it often doesn't do so symmetrically which makes your foundation susceptible to cracking.
Not properly pumping water out of your basement causes your backfill to become saturated with water. When it does get saturated, it becomes heavier and therefore exerts a lot of pressure on the foundation sidewall. If enough pressure builds up on the sidewall it will begin to move inwards, making a split in the interior section of your foundation. As previously mentioned, a cracked foundation will enable water to enter your basement.
Recap
Mold removal and foundation cracks can be extremely costly to fix and damaging to both your family's health and your home's structure. Installing a sump pump system in your home may be costly upfront, but it could save you from spending thousands on mold removal and foundation repairs in the near future.
How to Avoid Mold and Foundation Cracks
So don't wait! Start protecting you family and your home today by contacting the waterproofing experts at Matt Clark's Northern Basement Systems. They will provide you with a free, no obligation estimate for all of your basement waterproofing and foundation repair problems.