Water seepage is commonly associated with basements. When the soil around the home’s foundation gets saturated with water that isn’t able to drain away, it creates a phenomenon known as hydrostatic pressure. This pressure pushes on the foundation and causes existing cracks to get bigger. It can also cause new cracks to appear in the foundation.

According to Tracy, “Hydrostatic pressure refers to the weight of the water surrounding your basement walls. The water will push on the walls, causing them to crack and bow inward.” As this pressure builds up in the soil surrounding the foundation, it will also force water to seep through any porous surfaces.

The only way to stop water from coming up through your foundation slab is by installing a drain tile system, vapor barrier, and sump pump. Installing a vapor barrier will counter moisture seepage – A vapor barrier is a thin (10 to 20-mil thick) sheet of polyethylene that’s placed along your foundation walls.

Water actively seeping through the walls or collecting on the floor is more serious and is often better left to pros. It may call for a new foundation drainage system, installing drain tiles on the basement floor, or perhaps a sump pit and sump pump.

A small stream of water running down your basement walls when it rains could mean the water is entering your basement over the top of your foundation. When you have small streams of water in your basement possible fixes include installing a lateral drain, french drain, or a sump pump.