3 Causes of Crawl Space Flooding and How To Fix Them

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Be proactive by regularly examining your crawlspace for water, particularly after other storm damage

3 Causes of Crawl Space Flooding and How To Fix Them

Your crawl space is great for a variety of things, like storing holiday decorations and those Rollerblades you swear you’ll use again someday. Unfortunately, it’s also excellent for harboring hidden water. A home flood is just one way that water can infiltrate your crawl space. Here are three other common causes and how to detect them.

1. Dirty Gutters and Disconnected Downspouts
Your gutters and downspouts have one job: to move water away from your Santa Ana, CA, home. If your gutters are full of debris, their collected water can spill over and be delivered directly to the base of your house. Similarly, disconnected or inadvertently moved downspouts can cause water to pool near your foundation.
To keep water out of your crawl space, clean your gutters, and check on your downspouts’ placement regularly. This is especially important if you have children or pets.

2. Landscape Erosion
Over time, erosion can flatten your yard’s slope. When this happens, water no longer runs away from your foundation; instead, it can pool there and start to seep into your crawl space.
To check for grading issues, inspect your home’s perimeter, paying attention to the soil. If you spot any accumulated water or obvious depressions, it may be a sign that water’s entering your home at the site. To prevent a home flood, build the soil back up.

3. Underground Water
After a torrential rain or massive snowmelt, it’s possible for groundwater to rise and penetrate your crawl space. Damaged or clogged drains, broken pipes, and ruptured city water lines can also lead to problems with subterrestrial water. These issues are largely beyond your control, but you can be proactive by regularly examining your crawlspace for water, particularly after other storm damage. Promptly calling a water damage mitigation company can prevent underground water issues from escalating as well.
A home flood is the most obvious way that water can enter your crawl space, but it’s not the only one. Regular inspections of your home and yard can help you identify potential headaches before they become big problems. For water, you simply can’t avoid, enlist the help of an experienced restoration company.