Clay Bowl Effect Creates Problems in Santa Claus, IN Basement

Santa Claus, IN is no stranger to wet basement problems.  Most homes in the area have experienced damp to wet basements, periodic flooding, and the accompanying mold issues that arise from that.  It’s not unusual to see someone emptying a wet vac or replacing a sump pump.  The underlying cause of basement flooding remains unexplored, though.  Here is an explanation as to why Santa Claus, IN basements flood and what to do about it.

Why do basements flood?

Moisture is an essential element to soil—it’s a lubricant that traps air and allows soil particles to slide together.  You notice mud when it rains, but have you thought about what happens to the soil around your foundation when it gets wet?  It also turns to mud and that can be a problem. 

What we don’t notice as much is where the mud is and where the water is flowing. 

The virgin soil further away from our foundations is less permeable because it’s undisturbed and compacted.  The soil closer to our foundation has been disturbed by builders when they built our homes.  Rainwater and ground water flow along the divide between the more compacted virgin soil and the looser fill soils until it finds the lowest point, which is the bottom of your foundation.  The water sits there without sinking in because the undisturbed soil below makes a sort of bowl, catching water and keeping it there.  This is called the clay bowl effect.

This soil near the foundation also has an added permeable surface—your foundation itself.  Bricks, concrete blocks, and poured concrete walls all have moisture wicking properties.  They have the same properties as a paper towel—it’s called capillary action.  The concrete wicks the moisture from the surrounding fill soils and pulls them in to the basement or crawlspace. 

How do you know if you’re suffering from the Clay Bowl Effect?

□ Existing cracks weep water

□ Your basement has a higher relative humidity than the rest of your home.

□ You have elevated radon levels and cracks in your foundation

□ You have struggled with mold problems in the past

□ You notice that your basement walls and/or floors appear dark in spots.

How do you resolve these problems?

Resolving wet basement issues like flooding and leaking isn’t super difficult.  You can easily have a full perimeter drainage system installed along the interior footer of your foundation inside the basement.  The reason that you want the system inside the basement is that you’re accounting for the capillary action of the concrete and making sure to capture the most water possible, including the water wicked in from the surrounding soil through your foundation walls.

Want to learn more?  Contact us today for a FREE estimate and we’re happy to answer all your questions!