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If you walk into your basement or utility room and notice a thin sheen of water sitting on the concrete floor despite no burst pipe, overflowing appliance, or obvious source, then it’s time to aggressively wave your red flag.
A mysterious layer of moisture that seems to appear out of nowhere and keeps coming back no matter how many times you mop it up is a clear message, and the longer you ignore it, the more expensive that message gets.
In this brief article brought to you by Rooter Guard, we give you the rundown on what it means and what to do. If you’d rather consult a uniformed and trained plumber instead, then contact Rooter Guard to get in touch.
Most people think of concrete as a hard, impenetrable surface. In reality, concrete behaves more like a very hard sponge. It contains countless tiny pores and capillaries that allow moisture to travel through it from the ground below up to the surface above.
Under normal conditions, a properly installed vapor barrier and good exterior drainage keep that moisture outside and underground. But when those systems fail, or when groundwater levels rise and push against your slab from below, moisture finds its way up through the concrete and pools on your floor.
Aside from a burst pipe or overflowing appliance, the three most common causes are poor drainage, failing vapor barriers, and hydrostatic pressure:
Noticing moisture on your concrete floor and not sure what's causing it? Call Rooter Guard to have a trained plumber investigate. We’ll assess the situation and give you a clear and honest answer.
That thin layer of water might look harmless, but it isn't. Moisture that wicks up through concrete continuously introduces a cascade of problems that grow more serious with every passing day.
The most common and noteworthy is mold and mildew growth. Once these establish themselves in a basement or crawl space, they spread into walls, insulation, and structural materials, and they degrade your indoor air quality. People with allergies, asthma, or respiratory issues feel the effects first, but everyone suffers.
Structural damage is the real back-breaker. Wood framing, subfloor materials, and wall bases that stay damp begin to rot and weaken over time, and metal components will rust and corrode. What started as a thin film of water eventually works its way into the bones of your building.
Fixing exterior drainage and repairing or replacing a vapor barrier address important pieces of the puzzle, but for properties dealing with hydrostatic pressure and persistent groundwater intrusion, a sump pump installation is the most effective long-term solution available.
A sump pump sits in a pit at the lowest point of your basement or crawl space, and it automatically activates when the water accumulates past a certain, pre-determined level. The pump then actively moves that water out of the pit and away from your property.
Ready to stop mopping and start protecting? Call Rooter Guard to learn more about our sump pump installation services.
Have questions? Need emergency plumbing repair service? Rooter Guard is proud to have an office team on standby to take your call as well as dedicated plumbers ready to dispatch ASAP. Contact us now to get in touch!
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