Water Wars - The Fight Between Homeowners and H2O

Your basement or crawlspace is wet and moldy, and the experts tell you that it’s because there’s moisture underneath your home. But how did it get there? There are five commons ways that water infiltrates your basement or crawlspace, which can cause serious damage to your home and wallet.

1. 1.       Leakage occurs when you have hole, crack, or joint in the walls of your basement or crawlspace, allowing water to flow into the space underneath your home. Gravity causes water to flow downhill, and oftentimes towards your home, especially when it rains. Gravity paired with heavy rain can cause serious damage if you have openings in your basement or crawlspace where water can flow through.
2. 2.       “Wicking” or capillary action is a common ailment for homes with lots of porous materials in their basement or crawlspace. Porous materials, like wood, soak up the water underneath your home, creating the perfect playground for mold and other ailments.
3. 3.       Vapor Transmission, commonly called “diffusion” is the same concept as capillary action, but applies to water in gas form diffusing through porous surfaces. High humidity levels coupled with leakage can almost guarantee wet basement or crawlspace issues.
4. 4.       Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air condenses on cool surfaces. Your crawlspace or basement is typically much cooler than the rest of your home, and as humidity levels fluctuate, homeowners often experience increased moisture under their home – a problem caused by condensation.
5. 5.       Plumbing leaks can also cause serious damage to your basement or crawlspace. You might think that your plumbing is in perfect condition, but anything can happen. If you have leakage caused by plumbing issues, water damage can ruin your basement or crawlspace.

Now that we’ve defined the ways that water can get into your basement or crawlspace, what can you do about it? Here at Master Services, we offer numerous solutions to these common problems. With more than 30 patented products designed with your home in mind, Master Services has a way to fix your wet basement or crawlspace in Tennessee and nearby towns such as Chattanooga, Knoxville, Johnson City.