Common Indicators of Basement Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Pueblo

5/21/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Pueblo is a full restoration company. Our team of experts are on call and ready to help you determine the best course of action.

The basement is a favorite room of the house for many homeowners and families. It can be spacious for storage, cozy for living or playing or safe for sheltering in a storm.

But because basements are dug into the soil around your home, they often fall prey to moisture leakage, not to mention they become the fall-guy areas for other leaks in the home from plumbing, water heaters and the like.

While there’s certainly no guarantee that you’ll have to deal with water damage in your lower level, the odds are high enough that you should definitely be aware of what to look for. These indicators will let you know that water is coming in from somewhere—and when you see them, your local SERVPRO technicians are awaiting your call.

The Top Indicators of Water Damage in a Basement

Unpleasant, musky odors. Even if water that gets into the basement is clean, whether it comes from rainfall or a burst pipe, it doesn’t take long for it to develop bacteria, which turns into mold on your home surfaces and emits the musty, malodorous smell often associated with basements. This smell shouldn’t be the norm—it only arises when mold and mildew are present in the environment, and even if you can’t yet see mold, the smell lets you know you’ve got a water issue to manage.

Flaking paint on masonry or walls. Homeowners sometimes apply so-labeled waterproof paint to their basement interiors, thinking its one-application solution to lock out moisture. While it can help for a while, if a leak is happening behind it, even the thickest paint is going to eventually give way and let the water through. When you see bubbling, cracking and flaking in your paint job, there’s water to be found somewhere.

Foundational cracks. Homes may shift over time, but a crack in the foundation can’t be ignored, and it may be indicative of a serious water leak. On the inside, cracks may show up in the floor, the ceiling or in your walls, telling you that your house’s frame may be succumbing to undue pressure caused by a cracked foundation. There’s no need to worry about minute, hairline-type cracks, but anything larger requires professional help.

If you notice any of these signs in your basement, let us take a look. Our expert water restoration technicians can help you determine what is causing these issues and how to treat it properly. Contact us today to learn more.

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