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Water under the house

Do you have water damage in your basement or crawl space? Groundwater may be seeping in through the walls or floor. Or perhaps a water pipe is leaking. It’s important to identify the cause so you can take the appropriate steps.

As a homeowner, you are personally responsible for waterproofing underground spaces, such as a basement. If you live in a rental home and are experiencing water damage, you can hold your landlord accountable.

Crawl space

It is often not possible to make a crawl space watertight. However, there are measures that can reduce water accumulation in the crawl space. These include filling or raising the level of the crawl space, laying plastic sheeting, or installing a drainage system to remove (ground)water.

Basement

Flooding in a basement can have various causes. Here are some common problems:

  • Cracks have formed in the walls or floor. This can also happen over the years. As a result, groundwater can seep into the basement.
  • A pipe is leaking. It could be a water pipe, but it could also be, for example, a sewer line or a central heating pipe.
  • A pipe that runs outside—for example, to an outdoor faucet—was either installed improperly or cracked due to freezing, causing a leak.
  • In the basement, there is a drain (such as a toilet, sink, or floor drain) that is located below street level and is directly connected to the municipal sewer system. If it rains heavily and the municipal sewer system is full, water can back up at this connection point.

Who is responsible?

Even a basement that has always been dry can suddenly experience water damage—for example, due to a leaky pipe or cracks in the walls or floor.

It’s also possible that the groundwater level changes. Or that the municipality replaces a leaking sewer with a new, watertight one. The water that previously leaked into the sewer will then find another path. And the groundwater will return to its original level. If your basement or crawl space isn’t watertight, water can enter those areas. Since you, as the homeowner, are responsible for making these spaces watertight, the municipality is not liable for this.

How do you solve it?

Depending on the cause, you can repair walls, floors, or pipes—or have them repaired. If the problem is in a drain that’s below street level, a small pump or check valve may be the solution. A sewer service company can inspect your home’s connections and offer advice. For structural defects, you can hire a structural engineering firm or a contractor.

See also