When the spring season brings heavy rains, basement flooding becomes a common issue for homeowners. This is even the case for basements with no obvious cracks or other points of entry for water to get in. 

Why is my basement flooded??

If there are no obvious areas allowing water in, then why is the basement flooding? The reality is that water can sneak through even the smallest joints and crevices in a basement.

In fact, the most common entry point for water is the joint between the foundation footer and the foundation walls, known as a cold joint. During construction, the footer is typically poured first and allowed to set. Then, the foundation walls are poured. This process leaves a small seam between the two where, over time, water is able to seep in and lead to basement flooding.

In basements with block foundation walls, soil settlement around the home's foundation can cause it to shift over time, leading to small "stair step" cracks in the block that deepen as settlement progresses, allowing water to seep in.

Heavy rains and basement flooding

Some homes may have these cold joints and minor cracks, but haven't flooded (yet!). Unfortunately, these homes are often only one significant storm or snow melt away from being flooded. 

This is because of a phenomenon known as hydrostatic pressure. As soil becomes saturated with water during a rain event, the weight of the water puts increased pressure on the home's foundation.

As water pressure continues to build, it will typically find the path of least resistance (via the joints and cracks in your basement).

What do I do when my basement is flooded with groundwater?

If you wake up after a heavy overnight storm to find that your basement has flooded, give Mid-State Basement Systems a call right away to help you clean up the mess and address the root cause of your basement flooding problem.

The most typical solution for groundwater flooding is a sub-floor basement drainage system like WaterGuard. We install this system around the interior basement perimeter to drain water leaks from cracks and cold joints out of the basement and away from the home. 

When paired with a sump pump like our TripleSafe sump pump system, WaterGuard keeps your basement dry all the time--especially when you need it most after snow melt and heavy rains.