Believe it or not, basement flooding problems often start from the ground up. As the ground beneath your home becomes saturated with water, that water eventually rises up into your basement. It can find its way into the basement through cracks or simply through the porous concrete, creating floods that seemingly come out of nowhere. It is important to deal with flooding problems quickly, especially if they are happening regularly.

1. Water Can Cause Serious Damage

"But my basement is concrete, how can water damage it?"

Unfortunately, concrete is incredibly susceptible to damage from water. As water makes its way into your basement, it will fill small cracks or gaps. This water will slowly wear the concrete away over time, but the more serious damage occurs as the temperature changes. As the water freezes and thaws, it contracts and expands, creating additional damage and potentially allowing more water into the basement. Outlets and finished sections of the basement are at particular risk as well and water can potentially cause serious damage to these areas as well.

2. Moisture Is a Long-term Threat

Although standing water is a threat all on its own, long-term damage can also occur as the result of repeated flooding. This creates a moist environment in your basement, ultimately encouraging the growth of mold. Mold is more than just a threat to your basement, however. Once you have active mold spores in your home, they can easily spread elsewhere in the house. If these spores find their way into bathrooms or other moist areas, they can quickly take and create a problem requiring major remediation.

3. Flood Insurance May Require It

If you live in a flood prone area, you may not be able to purchase flood insurance without a sump pump installed in your home. Often, insurance will not cover damage that could have been prevented had a sump pump been present. If you aren't sure, it's important to contact your insurance and discuss which options are available for your policy. Since flood damage can be incredibly costly or even result in the total destruction of a house, it is important to be sure that you are covered for whatever threats are common in your area.

4. You Can Increase Your Air Quality

Even though sump pumps are all about keeping your basement dry, a moist basement can increase humidity levels throughout your entire house. Not only can this make your home more uncomfortable, it can also cause your HVAC system to work harder and ultimately wear out more quickly. This increased humidity level can even encourage mold growth elsewhere in your home, making it especially important to keep your basement moisture levels under control.

To learn more, contact a sump pump installation company near you!