How to Find a Foundation Leak in Your Basement

A foundation leak can be very troubling and stressful, that's why it's important to learn how to fix a foundation leak. The first thing that you will need to do when fixing any leak is try to identify the cause.

The cause of foundation leaks can be because of various things. It could be a result of a leaking water pipe, condensation or simply because water is seeping in from the surrounding ground. Whatever the problem is you need to be able to identify the location and the cause of the leak.

Finding Foundation Leaks

Take a look all along the basement wall looking for any obvious signs of damage. If there are any cracks in the wall then these will allow water in. Cracks will normally be found either right at the top or bottom of the wall. The cracks might be very small and difficult to spot, other times the cracks can be very noticeable.

Use a flashlight to look for these cracks as this will make it much easier to find any cracks no matter how small they are.

Test

There is a pretty simple test that you can do to determine whether the cause of the leak is due to water seepage or because of condensation. This is to tape a small square of foil to one of your walls. Leave this for a few nights and see what happens. When you take the foil off if the moisture is on the front of the foil then this means the problem is caused by condensation. If on the other hand the moisture is on the inside of the foil then it means the problem is from a leak.

The only real way to deal with condensation is to use a dehumidifier to get rid of all the moisture out of your room.

Looking for Deposits

If you notice any signs of damp or white deposits on your basement walls or foundation then this is caused by damp. This is a deposit which grows on concrete which should alert you to the leak. The crack or leak should be located very closely to this white deposit.

Paint

Paint will often peel when it gets damp, if there is any peeling paint in your basement then this suggests that there has been or there is still a leak in the wall.

Mold

If there are any patches of mold or mildew on the ceiling, foundation or basement walls then this also means that there is moisture in the wall somewhere.

Floor Tiles

If there are any floor tiles on the floor which have started to lift up or if there is any rust on the floor then these mean that water is in your basement.

Pipes

The cause of the leak could be to due with your plumbing systems, make sure you investigate the potential leaks to try and identify where it is occurring. The leaks will often happen at joints although the entire pipe could have frozen and burst. Alternatively, you might be suffering from the leak due to a continuously running toilet.

Professional

If you can't find the cause of the leak then you should call in a professional to help you. Leaving it alone over the long term will only result in a more expensive repair some day down the road.