Handling Basement Drainage Problems

Posted on March 4, 2010
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One of the most frustrating problems of London home ownership is a leaky basement. Water leaks can be caused by a wide range of things, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Installing a sump pump is often the first “solution” tried by home owners with leaky basements. While this is necessary and can prevent a bad problem from getting much worse, it does not really get to the heart of the issue.

What causes water leaks in the first place is a combination of two things: poor drainage around your foundation, and inadequate sealing of your basement walls and floors. Your basement is like a reverse swimming pool. When there are cracks or weaknesses in the walls or floor, the water outside will try to get inside.

To stop this water flow the first thing you should try to do is improve the drainage of the low lying areas around the ouside of your foundation. Here is an excellent overview of some inexpensive exterior drainage solutions including french drain and dry well installations.

Sometimes the best approach is to install an interior drainage system. with an interior drainage system water beneath the floor or at the base of your walls is collected by a drainage pipe under the floor and carried to your sump pit. For a description of how this works see this article about interior drainage systems.

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