If you are considering purchasing a house, or inspecting the basement in your own house, there are certain signs which will tell you if there has been some damage from flooding, or prolonged dampness in the basement. The following 10 signs are signs that water or prolonged dampness has been present:
Water Signs:
1. Look for damp spots on walls. This is a sign that water has been absorbed into and through the wall. If your basement has a block wall, than the damp spot will be composed of patches of grey in various places.
2.Check the base of walls around the basement. If there has been temporary flooding and then drying, you might see a horizontal line or lines. This is known as the “high water sign.”
3.Look for stains along the walls or floor, caused by the presence of water, which has subsequently dried. They may appear rust colored on a dark floor. This may not be serious, as it could be caused by a laundry tub that overflowed, or it could be serious, and indicate water is seeping into the basement through the windows, walls or floor.
Mold Signs
4. Fungus And Mold – Prolonged moisture in the basement plus cold and the dark will make the basement susceptible to the growth of fungus and mold, which is a specialized form of fungus. The mold might be colored black, brown, yellow or green. To be sure that the discoloration in the basement is due to mold, you need to have a test done.
5. Dry Rot: or the decay of wood products from prolong mold may develop.
6. Musty odor causing a smell. The decay process caused by prolonged damp, and presence of fungus and mold will cause a characteristic “damp” smell from mold, dry rot and possibly mildew, (fungal rot of plant products), as well.
Wall Signs:
7. Efflorescence: Is a white or possibly grayish chalky like substance on the walls, that may seem to sparkle. It is caused by salt deposits left behind from water that has evaporated.
8. Scaling: Salt deposits from water, which has gotten underneath the painted surface of your basement walls, can cause scaling and peeling paint.
9. Cracked walls: If excess water around your home’s foundation has caused shifting of the foundation, you may develop cracks in the walls.
Miscellaneous Sign:
10. Periodic moisture, which has dried may leave rust deposits on the bottom of furnaces, water heaters and other appliances.
If you have gone through this checklist and found none of the signs mentioned, than you can be relatively certain the house does not have a water problem in the basement.
Thanks to A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore for sponsoring this article. If you happen to live in the Greater Baltimore area, and have a water problem, give A-1 Plumbing a call. We have licensed plumbers who are skilled in water detection, and the diagnosis of a wet basement. We will be happy to come out and determine the source of your water leak.
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