A basement is an area below the first floor with a minimum height of 6 feet
8 inches. Basements may be unfinished and used to store personal
belongings and to house
the mechanical systems such as the HVAC system, electrical panel, and main
plumbing controls. Other basements may have portions that are finished and used as a
living area. But finished or unfinished, it is estimated that 90
to 95 percent of all basements will experience a water penetration problem.
Generally, water penetration in a basement causes more damage to personal
belongings and the mechanical systems in the basement than actual damage to
structure. However, excessive moisture in the basement can lead to
health concerns such as mold and mildew. In addition, excessive
moisture can lead to the development of wood destroying fungus
and create conducive conditions that can lead
to infestation of wood destroying insects such
as termites. For more information on how to
deal with a wet basement, follow the links below.
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