Water is the eternal enemy of your home. From the construction process to long after, water can always throw a spanner in the works. Water infiltration can occur through the ground, along the outside of your home, or even from within. In any case, you should always address water infiltration quickly to avoid structural damage to your home. But how do you recognize water infiltration? You can read about it below.
In What Ways Can Water Infiltrate your Home?
Water is a constant threat to your home. It can seep into your home in countless ways. All forms of water infiltration can be roughly divided into three categories.
Water Infiltration through the Ground
First, there is rising damp, the classic form of water infiltration that everyone thinks of when we talk about moisture problems. This type of water infiltration occurs when water from the ground comes into direct contact with the bricks of your home. This is normally prevented by a damp-proof course, a type of plastic film that serves as a barrier, but this film can break or wear out (or even be absent in older homes). The damage is then quickly done.
Water Infiltration through Condensation
The most common form of water infiltration, however, is condensation. This problem occurs very often in spaces where there is a lot of water vapor in the air, such as the kitchen and bathroom. When these spaces are not sufficiently ventilated, the vapor settles on the walls, resulting in water infiltration. Mold formation often accompanies this type of water infiltration.
Water Infiltration through the Shell of your Home
And finally, there is penetrating damp. The water infiltration occurs here along the outside of your home. Through cracks in the facade bricks, cracks in the joints, along gaps between windows and walls, or through the roof, water can also infiltrate. The water infiltration usually manifests itself at the top of the wall, while rising damp becomes visible at the bottom of the wall.
How to Recognize Water Infiltration in your House?
This is how You Recognize Water Infiltration
Water infiltration usually remains invisible for a long time. Before there are clear signs of moisture in the house, the water has already been damaging the walls of your home for some time. The following signs may occur with any form of water infiltration:
- A dull, musty odor that wasn’t there before
- The part of the wall affected by water infiltration feels colder
- Mold formation is a typical sign of water infiltration
- Damp spots once the bricks are saturated with moisture
Water Infiltration through the Ground
If the water has infiltrated through the ground, rising damp that is, there are some additional specific symptoms. Rising damp can – in the worst case – appear up to about one and a half meters high on the wall. Before you see damp spots, there are some other signs that reveal water infiltration:
- Detaching baseboards
- Bulges at the bottom of the wall
- Loosening wallpaper
- Peeling paint
- Plasterwork that discolors or crumbles
- Saltpeter formation, a white, powdery substance, on the walls as a result of a chemical reaction caused by minerals from the groundwater
Water Infiltration through Penetrating Damp
Water can also penetrate through the facade, roof, or windows. In that case, you need to look for other signs:
- A musty smell in the attic
- Woodwork of frames or doors feels soft
- Plasterwork, paint, or wallpaper looks different around the window
- Cracks in the bricks or joints of the facade
- The window frame no longer fits properly
- A defective or clogged gutter
- Leaks along seals
Water Infiltration through the Basement: a Common Problem
One room is even more susceptible to water infiltration than all others: the basement. This room is surrounded by damp soil, and usually there are no windows, resulting in high humidity. It’s the ideal scenario for water infiltration and mold problems. In a basement, it’s actually a matter of time before water infiltrates. Therefore, in basements, you need to be extra vigilant and actively look for signs of moisture. The sooner you treat moisture in the basement, the easier and cheaper the moisture control will be.
Solusio Tackles all Forms of Water Infiltration and Banishes Moisture from your Home
To quickly address water infiltration, you need to call in a moisture expert. The professionals from Solusio are happy to visit you to thoroughly investigate the water infiltration in your home. We determine exactly how the moisture has entered your home and then devise an appropriate treatment plan. After we have addressed the problem, your house will be free from water infiltration again. Curious to learn more? Contact us today for non-binding advice.