While a rainy day can be an opportunity to catch up on a good book, damage from a rain shower can ruin that great book club find! Often times a few simple maintenance tricks and a quick inspection can be all you need to keep the interior of your property dry.
- Check and seal caulking around windows, attic vents, and doorways. This is an inexpensive way to keep pesky leaks from becoming costly water damage.
- Assess your foundation, basement, and/or crawlspace for standing water or water stains on the basement floor. Do you see any efflorescence on exposed basement walls made of concrete? This white or grayish tinted sheen typically represents salt deposits from water coming into direct contact with an exposed masonry surface. This may be indicative of a french drainage system not directing groundwater away from the basement foundation. The resulting water pressure against the foundation may lead to efflorescence.
- Does your sump pump(s) have a battery backup? If so, test the batteries to make sure they are working properly for notification in the event groundwater seeps into your basement.
- Check carpets, carpet pads, rugs and floors under windows or near doorways. If you feel moisture, act quickly to stop the start of mold growth! Pulling up affected areas, positioning a dehumidifying fan on a high setting directly at the wetness, and using a wet vac may lessen the likelihood of a mold presence. If the water is puddled and significant in volume, replacing floors and carpets may be necessary.
- Examine insulation in an attic space for signs of dampness. If the insulation is wet, it should be removed to lesson the chances of rot in floor joists and mold forming on the adjacent walls.
- If any dampness is noticed in the basement, under windows, or in carpet, it's possible for the walls to be affected. Check walls for peeling or bubbling paint, stains and other noticeable discoloration.
- Clear gutters of excess debris and leaves to keep water flowing easily and downspouts draining away from your home.
- If you cannot located the source of a leak and/or smell dampness in the air, contact a licensed waterproofing professional for an evaluation.