Why is it important to waterproof your basement?

by | Mar 3, 2015 | Construction and Maintenance

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Unless your basement has been finished and turned into extra living space you might simply see it as a place to store items that you don’t necessarily need every day, it is this but more importantly, it is the foundation of your house. In many cases foundation problems and water problems go hand in hand and by undertaking undertaking basement waterproofing In Allentown Area you can often steer clear of costly problems with the structure of the house. Over and above ensuring your house is structurally sound you are also ensuring that your family’s health is protected and you save money over the long run.

Some of the problems that are experienced when the basement is damp are:

*   Increased problems with asthma and allergies: Although the water is in the basement, eventually it evaporates and rises into the living quarters, this increases the humidity in the home.

*   The increased moisture in your home creates: the perfect environment for mold to take hold. Mold spores travel on air currents, the spores settle on areas which are damp as moisture is what mold needs to thrive. Mold can cause severe throat irritation, eye irritation, coughing and is very hard on those suffering from asthma.

*   Increased energy costs: High humidity does more than adversely affect your health; it is also a leading cause of unnecessarily high energy bills. You know based on your summer experiences that it costs more to cool humid air; the same is true when it is time to heat humid air. Humidity in your basement can easily add 10-15 percent to the cost of your heating bill.

*   Structural issues: If you notice cracks in the walls or floor in addition to the problems your having with water this is a sign that you might be facing foundation problems. Spalling; this is when the concrete starts chipping is usually caused by high pressure behind the wall, this pressure is also the cause of water ingress. You might think of it as little more than a cosmetic problem but it is a sure sign that you need to undertake basement waterproofing in Allentown.

If problems like this are not enough reason to have basement waterproofing in Allentown done then perhaps maintaining the value of your property is. Water problems that are not attended to can easily drop the price you can expect when you put your house up for sale by 20 percent or even more.