How to Fix Water in a Basement

Draining

• 1

  Run a sump pump if you don't have a basement drain and there is a lot of water. You can rent or buy one, either battery-powered or electric. If your basement does not have a designated sump, simply put the sump pump in the lowest area where the most water has collected. Connect a discharge hose to the pump and run it to an area outside, far from the basement. Turn it on and let it do its job.

• 2

  Mop up the remaining puddles. Pumps can't get every drop, so a little mopping will be necessary. A shop vacuum will also work for this.

• 3

  Run your dehumidifier 24/7 or buy some industrial-sized fans. Set your dehumidifier to run constantly, even though the catch basin will get full. Put a large bucket under it to collect extra water. If you cannot run your dehumidifier constantly, you will have to empty the catch bucket frequently.

Waterproofing

• 4

  Check the outside of the house before moving on to the basement itself. Remove any bushes that are too close to the basement walls. Their roots could be allowing water into your basement. Check your gutters and downspouts and clean them if they are clogged. If your water problem is serious, you may need to install pipes or drains to redirect the flow of water towards the road. Add dirt to your foundation so it slopes away from the walls.

• 5

  Identify the source of the problem. Of course, a large flash flood is going to flood your basement no matter how waterproof it is. If every time it rains you have serious flooding, you might need to call a professional to install a sump pump or work with the soil around your house. If you have holes or cracks in your walls causing water damage, first repair them with waterproofing cement before waterproofing the entire basement with special compound.

• 6

  Mix two parts fine sand with one part water to make stiff mortar. Use the mixture to fill in any holes and cracks. This will fix any leakage problem not involved with pressure. If you can buy a mortar that sets in running water, you can use it to plug leaks in walls or floors, even while it is still flooding.

• 7

  Chip away at faulty concrete and enlarge the crack, if pressure is an issue. Create a dovetail groove. This allows the mortar to hold when it is dry. Be sure the mortar completely fills the hole and doesn't have any air pockets.

• 8

  Apply a waterproofing mixture to the walls. Brush a first coat over the problem areas, feathering it at the edges. When the coating is dry, spray it with water and allow it to set overnight.

• 9

  Wet the wall a second time and apply a second coat while the area is wet. You must always use two coats when waterproofing, since one coat will not solve the problem.