How to Make Sure Your Basement Stays Dry

A wet basement is a potential hazard to both your home's health, and your own. Water accumulation in any amount can create problems for your foundation, cause concrete to crack, crumble and weaken your house's structure at it's very base. However, even a little condensation in the basement can create an even bigger, more serious problem: mold. Finding the source of your basement dampness, and fixing the problem is an important home repair issue.
Gutters and Downspouts
Check for breaks, or leaks in gutters, and move all downspouts to discharge at least two feet away from the foundation of your home. Watershed from downspouts are a big contributor to water in the basement, and can cause a lot of damage to the cement/cement block wall structure as well.
Window Wells and Casings
Apply a sealant to the casings of all windows in basements. Keep all window wells cleared of debris, and make sure the drains at the centers of the window wells are clear to allow water to drain away from the foundation.
Dehumidify the Air
Run a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture buildup. Even when you do not have standing water in your basement, the cement walls and closed in confines of common foundations create a moisture rich environment that encourages condensation, especially in very warm weather.
Water Fixtures
Fix or replace any leaking fixtures inside the house immediately. Letting leaky faucets, or pipes go until "later" deteriorates the flooring, and ends up leaking into the basement, damaging the walls, and floors and even the floor joists. Don't ignore outdoor water spigots either. A small drip from an outdoor faucet can produce a lot of water damage in a short period of time, erode concrete, and leak into the basement.
Apply Cement Sealant
Fix all cracks in walls or floors of your foundation, and then apply a waterproofing sealant to prevent seepage through the walls. Use mortar or concrete repair mixtures to smooth over cracks. For very thin cracks, it is actually a good idea to chip away at the crack to open it up at least a 1/4-inch so that the mortar can get inside and hold better. Sealants paint on like regular paint.