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Newly fallen snow is magical as it turns everything into a winter wonderland. But when that snow turns into water and causes dampness in your basement, it’s not so magical anymore.

Many homeowners think basement flooding and water issues only happen in the spring and summer when there’s heavy rainfall. However, snow and freeze-thaw temperatures can also increase the chances of hydrostatic water pressure, which in turn floods your basement. Melting snow in the ground also leads to flooding problems.

Let’s dive deep into how you might end up with a flooded basement in the colder months.

Why you might see a flooded basement in the Winter months

There are several reasons you might get large puddles of water or a flooded basement during months of cold temperatures. Here are some main causes of water seepage.

1. Your basement is warmer than the outside

Your basement may be chilly for you, but it’s a lot warmer than the ground outside adjacent to your foundation. The first few feet of ground are frozen and possibly covered in snow, while your basement, although unheated, is at least 55 degrees. The excess heat from your basement radiates up to 8” through the foundation walls causing the snow to melt while the ground remains frozen.

As the water builds up, it gets trapped between the frozen soil and the foundation walls. Eventually, hydrostatic pressure forces the water into your basement through cracks and holes in your foundation walls. Sometimes, the process results in new cracks in the foundation wall.

2. Clogged gutters and downspouts draining too close to your home

All those fall colors mean falling leaves which can end up in your gutters. If you don’t clean the gutters, the leaves will clog up the system causing rainwater, heavy snow, and melted snow to cascade over the edge of the gutters instead of down the downspout. This water collects right next to your foundation.

If your clean and clear downspout drains right next to your foundation, consider getting a downspout extender to direct water away from your home. If your house has buried downspouts, you might only have the gutters to worry about.

Note: Buried gutter extensions can also freeze during severe cold, preventing water from draining away from your home. The ice damming causes water to build up next to your foundation.

3. The slope around your foundation is wrong

All that water cascading out of the gutters can cause erosion near your foundation. Take a walk around your home looking for areas near the foundation where mulch has been pushed away, exposing bare ground. You’ll notice that the water has created a slope towards your foundation. You’ll need to fix this, so the slope drains water from your home into the garden beds. Ideally, a 6” slope will get the job done.

You can hire a landscaping crew to remedy this or DIY using topsoil or fill dirt. If you opt for the latter, be careful not to add too much soil, as it could result in over-the-foundation seepage!

4. You have cracks in your basement walls and floors

If you have a finished basement, you may not be aware of the cracks. However, any good foundation company will tell you that concrete cracks over time. When this happens, water will take the path of least resistance and flow through the crack. If you do an inspection and notice visible cracks, you should have your basement waterproofed by a professional.

Another thing to consider is what your basement walls are made of. The outside surface should be damp-proofed if made from concrete blocks/cinder blocks. But that coating can wear away after 5-10 years, turning those cinder block walls into water sponges.

This is one of the reasons why your home becomes more prone to excess water seepage as it ages. In fact, it’s been our observation that 9 out of 10 basements leak within the first 10 years.

5. Your sump pump has issues

If you have a sump pump, test it to ensure it’s working before winter. If it’s almost 10 years old or making strange noises, replace it. To prevent unnecessary hydrostatic pressure, ensure the discharge flows away from your home’s foundation.

6. Leaky window wells

If your house has ground-level basement windows, you have window wells. Covering the window wells before winter helps prevent snow build-up next to the foundation. Aside from this, ensure the windows are properly sealed, and the window wells have good drainage.

Preventative measures you can take

If you already have a sump pump, there are a few things you can do to make sure it does its job properly:

• Keep snow and ice cleared away from the sump pump discharge line(s). This allows the water to flow freely instead of collecting at the end of the pipe, potentially leading to frozen pipes that’ll burn out the system.
• Keep snow and ice away from your foundation walls, basement, and crawl space access doors. This helps keep melting snow from pooling and infiltrating the foundation walls and access crawl holes.
• If you don’t have downspout extenders, get them and keep them clear after snow falls, so the water has somewhere to go.
• Test your sump pump periodically to ensure it is in working order. Newer pumps will have indicator lights and alarms to tell you the status. We recommend battery-powered backup sump pumps too.
• And lastly, if you have gallons of water flooding your basement, seek a permanent solution to prevent the problems that come with a damp or flooded basement.

Protect your home as best as possible from having a flooded basement.

If you’ve had to throw out a bunch of water-damaged and mold-damaged stuff, it’s time to find a solution for the flooding basement. Until you put a system that protects your basement from flooding, you will continue to have water damage to your interior and valuables.

Set up a FREE inspection of your basement to protect the value of your home and protect your family’s health. The team at Value Dry has decades of experience in basement waterproofing. You can count on us for an honest assessment and evaluation and solutions tailored to your specific needs. Take control and reclaim your space.

To get started, call us at (888) 768-2583. We serve homeowners throughout Maryland, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and parts of Delaware.