If you found water coming through a basement crack during or after a heavy rainstorm, the crack is providing a pathway for water to enter your home. Even if the leaking stops once the weather clears, the crack itself has not necessarily gone away.
At CrackPros, we’ve seen an increase in Edmonton-area homeowners calling us about leaking basement cracks following the recent storms. In many cases, a crack that had never caused an obvious problem before started leaking when heavy rainfall saturated the ground around the foundation.
Why Does a Basement Crack Leak After Heavy Rain?
Foundation cracks often leak after heavy rain because more water is collecting in the soil around your foundation. An existing crack can remain unnoticed during normal conditions and only reveal itself when the surrounding ground becomes particularly wet.
This does not necessarily mean the storm caused the crack. The heavy rainfall may simply have exposed an existing weak point by giving water an opportunity to travel through it.
Is a Leaking Foundation Crack a Structural Problem?
Not every leaking foundation crack indicates serious structural damage, but it should be properly assessed. There are really two questions to answer: why did the concrete crack, and why is water getting through it?
Some foundation cracks are primarily water-infiltration problems. Others may be associated with movement or other foundation issues. Signs such as displacement, significant changes in the crack, or movement in the foundation wall deserve additional attention.
What Should You Do If Your Basement Crack Is Leaking?
Protect your basement first, then document the leak before everything dries. Photos and videos taken while the crack is actively leaking can be very helpful when the problem is assessed later.
If you discover a leaking crack:
- Move belongings away from the affected area and remove standing water where it is safe to do so.
- Photograph the crack while it is wet or actively leaking.
- Note whether water is coming through a wall crack, floor crack, around a pipe, or another opening.
- Check outside for pooling water, overflowing eavestroughs or downspouts that are depositing water close to the house.
- Have the crack assessed, especially if it has leaked more than once or was repaired previously.
Don’t assume the problem has resolved itself just because the concrete dries after the rain stops.
Check Your Drainage and Grading Too
If a foundation crack starts leaking after a storm, look at what is happening outside the house as well as inside. Water pooling beside the foundation can contribute to basement water problems.
The City of Edmonton recommends maintaining lot grading so surface water drains away from buildings. It also warns that soil settlement around foundation walls can create drainage problems over time.
Downspouts are another simple thing to check. Edmonton recommends directing downspout water away from the foundation rather than allowing roof runoff to collect beside the house.
If you notice pooling water outside near the same part of the foundation that is leaking inside, mention it when you have the crack assessed.
Not All Basement Leaks Come Through Wall Cracks
Water can enter a basement through several types of cracks and openings. CrackPros repairs foundation wall cracks and basement floor cracks, as well as leaks around pipes and tie rods.
We also repair previously repaired cracks that have begun leaking again. If an old repair fails during heavy rain, simply adding another patch over the surface may not address the actual water pathway.
The location where you see water inside isn’t always where it first entered, particularly in a finished basement where water can travel behind walls.
When Should You Have a Leaking Basement Crack Repaired?
If water has already entered through a crack, it is worth having the area assessed rather than waiting for the next major storm. This is particularly important for actively leaking cracks, recurring leaks and cracks that have previously been repaired.
The recent Edmonton storms have made previously unnoticed basement cracks much more obvious for some homeowners. A basement that stayed dry for years can still develop a leak when conditions around the foundation change.
If you’ve discovered a leaking foundation wall crack, basement floor crack, leak around a pipe or tie rod, or an old crack repair that is leaking again, contact CrackPros to have the problem assessed and determine the appropriate repair.