The rains we have just had were the heaviest in years and many clients asked for advice on water issues. Water seeped into many basements, especially in older homes. Some owners wonder how water gets inside the basement at all. The answer is that water is absorbed into the ground and then naturally finds pathways through the concrete foundation and into the basement. If the basement has a working sump pump, the water is pumped out before it can accumulate.

 

An upgrade to a sump pump system is a French drain around the perimeter of a house. The drain collects water and carries it to a collection point so that it doesn’t seep into the basement at all.

 

The rains have shown that it is important to have an adequate drainage system and check on it often.