Without adequate waterproofing, your basement and foundation are susceptible to major water damage. As Jaco Waterproofing explains, even if you don't live in an area where flooding is common, the gradual buildup of moisture can cause significant problems such as mold and erosion.

For more than 40 years, they’ve been waterproofing basements, repairing foundations, and sealing concrete surfaces all throughout the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky Tri-State area. These experts want you to know there are many precautionary measures you can take to protect your home.

5 Tips to Waterproofing Your Basement

1. Cover the Sump Pump Basin

When a sump pump basin is left uncovered, the water collected can evaporate and form excess moisture in your basement. Buy a cover that can either screw into the basin or, for basins made of metal or clay, into the surrounding concrete.

2. Examine the Crawl Space

If your home regularly faces humidity issues, moisture can quickly accumulate in the crawlspace, especially for those with dirt or gravel floors. The crawl space often leads to the basement, so you'll need to have the moisture content checked to determine whether a drainage or encapsulation system should be installed. The latter may include increased insulation and vapor retarders.

3. Look Out for Seepage

Anytime you find a crack with water seeping through it, call a professional. Not only will they patch it up properly, but they'll also examine the problem and determine how to prevent it from worsening or eliminate it completely. Other than cracks, there's a chance water is also seeping through the top of the foundation. The foundation will be repaired from the exterior in these instances.

4. Maintain Plumbing

Keep your plumbing system in good shape to prevent widespread water damage from growing. Regularly examining the pipes and fixtures for any leaks is helpful, but it's always better to have plumbers do an annual professional maintenance check.

5. Seal the Dryer Vent

For those with a clothes dryer in the basement, make sure the vent pipe is firmly attached to the dryer. If there's a leak, the hot, moist, air will end up in the basement instead of outside the house. Foil tape should suffice in sealing up most leaks.

If you need more than a few preventative tasks to keep your basement moisture-free, contact Jaco Waterproofing. They offer a limited lifetime warranty on all their work and also have a number of financing options available. For those closer to Cincinnati, call (513) 738-0084, while those near Indianapolis can call (317) 721-9379. Don't forget to follow them on Facebook!