It finally happened. Or maybe it happened again. Your basement is leaking. Now what are you supposed to do?
Too many homeowners in Metro Detroit blow off a basement leak. They think it’s not a big deal, and take the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach. This holds even truer for homeowners who don’t have finished basements. Here are the top reasons why homeowners ignore a leak or water in their basement, and why all of these reasons will lead to problems in the future:
- The water will evaporate eventually!
- I can clean it up with a vacuum and then it’ll be fine!
- The water isn’t hurting anyone!
- I don’t have the money to deal with this right now!
When you ignore a leak in your home, you may be perpetuating more problems to start showing up in the near future all around your home.
The Consequences of Ignoring A Basement Leak
There are a few factors that can cause a leak to form in your basement. When water enters your home, regardless of the amount, it has no where to travel except directly to the floor.
Humidity – As you may have already noticed with small leaks in your basement, when water emerges, it will eventually evaporate, especially if is a small amount. While this takes care of the immediate problem of water on your floor, where do you think all that humidity goes? Right back into your home! The HVAC system in your home was created to handle humidity levels, but you’re making it work extra hard to combat the excess moisture.
Mold – Mold is one of the most common side effects of water or moisture in the basement. It is extremely dangerous to you and your family’s health. Mold can quickly spread across your home, and potentially even outside of your home. When moisture is introduced into your home, mold that may have been dormant is then given the power to spread.
Expense – At Tom’s Basement Waterproofing we often hear that homeowners feel they can’t afford to fix their minor basement problems right now. The assumption is that any basement waterproofing job is expensive, and that is not the case. Fixing cracks that cause leaks, especially when addressed early, is a quick and simple process. Ignoring the issue could be the difference between spending a few hundred dollars and a few thousand.
The moral of this story is to not ignore problems in your basement when they arise. Have you noticed water, leaks, or excessive moisture in your basement?