Water Seepage Prevention Guide – How to Prevent Water Seepage in Your Property

It can be challenging knowing how to prevent water seepage, as it can have a range of causes. However, excess water can damage your construction project or property, cause mold, and electrical hazards.  It is essential to take every effort to avoid the additional hours of labor delay and costly bills to your project that might result from water seepage.  Thankfully, there are some preventative measures you can take to help stop water seepage from occurring.

Remove melted snow and ice

Any kind of property or build is more susceptible to water damage during the transition from cold to warmer seasons.  As the snow and ice begin to thaw, it may be a welcome change in weather to enable you to work outdoors, but the sudden increase in water levels may result in irreparable damage to your property.  The cost of such damage is unlikely to have been factored into your budget, so it is important to act as quickly as possible. When it is safe to do so, remove any snow and ice from the foundations and roof to prevent excess water from damaging the property.

Adjust gutters and spouts

To prevent flooding, you should pay attention to the placement of all gutters and spouts.  The flow of water should be directed away from the foundations of the building, so if flooding does occur, the water flows away from the line of the property to a place where it will not result in costly repairs.  It is also helpful for the foundations to be sloped, as this allows the water to run in an outward direction. However, if this direction is not a possibility, then next to the foundations, you can place rocks on top of heavy and durable plastic to help to redirect water flow.

Seal foundation cracks

You may have noticed small cracks in your building foundations but have chosen not to address them. While ignorance may be bliss, these cracks can result in severe damage if left unaddressed.  Water seepage is likely to occur at some point in time, mainly when working in winter months, as pipes start to freeze.  An opposing but just as important problem to melting snow is a burst pipe in cold weather.  By clearing the surrounding areas next to the foundations and ensuring that all pipes and water discharge are fully insulated, you are less likely to encounter such an issue.

Check your water pH

The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) considers the carbonate equilibrium in water to assess its hardness or pH.  By identifying the corrosivity of your water before ensuing work, it will help determine the likelihood of water seepage occurring which could otherwise delay your project.  Corrosive water can damage pipes, which causes plumbing leaks, as well as toxic metals, to enter the water system.  Using a copper test strip is secure and can quickly determine the safety of the water system.  A reading of 2mg/L is generally considered safe, whereas anything below this or above 3mg/L may indicate a severe issue.  In this instance, the entire system and pipes may need to be replaced.

G3SoilWorks can help you find a solution to address all your water seepage concerns. Contact us and maximize the productivity and profitability of your property or projects in Southern California with our geotechnical and geological experience.