Water in basement is an indication that something is wrong; this shouldn’t be wiped up and ignored. To learn more about this, see this attached article from Tom Feiza’s book, “How to Operate Your Home”.
Surface Water
The first thing to check is to make sure that surface water drains away from the house and that all drainage elements are working properly:
- Rain gutter and downspouts clear.
- Sewer pipes or drain tiles clear and functioning.
- Sewer pipes intact (not cracked or leaking) (special equipment may be required to check this).
- Sidewalks, patios, and driveways pitched to move water away from the house.
- Soil, mulch, plantings, and debris not interrupting the flow of water away from the house.
Ground Water
Water that migrates through the soil should normally be routed away by either a drainage system, or a sump and sump pump system
- Check that the sump pump is operating properly, and has the proper depth setting (at its highest point the water level should be below the drain tile).
- Check that water is flowing. If the walls are damp, then water should be flowing through the drain tile.
If a blockage is suspected, you’ll likely need someone to come in and perform a drain tile test.