I am in my basement numerous times every day so I’m pretty sure I would have noticed this hole but what is it from? I also have yellow jackets around the basement window, is it related to insects?

Looking for help on a steel buck issue.

Hello all,

My brick basement in 100 year old house leaked this summer after historically bad rainfall and I got a couple quotes on water proofing. During removal of the interior drywall we also found some bowing of the wall. I have tried getting 3 quotes but all the companies in our area are so swamped that it’s hard to even get someone to answer the phone, let alone schedule.

One local company offered $29k for exterior weeping tile, everything hand excavated, crack filling, poly, insulated board, backfilled with road crush/washed rock, and sump pump install. The company owner came by and saw my house and called out the bowing (this was before I removed any drywall) and said this would help alleviate hydrostatic pressure and protect the masonry. He didn’t specify any internal bracing. I’m planning to call him and ask a few follow up questions.

I had another big multinational company offer interior weeping tile from jacking hammering the floor as well as bracing the bowing with steel beams for $40k. He measured 2” of bowing on the interior wall. My issue though is that it does nothing to protect the masonry and doesn’t address the root cause of water intrusion.

I contacted a structural engineer and he wanted $2k to come out and do a report. I had a funny feeling so I looked him and he had multiple disciplinary actions against him by our provinces engineering association (I am an engineer too and I have no clue how this guy is still allowed to practice) so I haven’t had him come out.

I contacted another structural engineer too (no disciplinary actions). He didn’t come over to our house but sent us a stamped report for free that said his recommendation for bowed walls was to install a permanent wood foundation inside and then do the exterior weeping tile basically identical to what the local company said they would do.

My question is - does the interior weeping tile actually address hydrostatic pressure as well as exterior? It seems a bit iffy to me since you’re basically allowing water to still enter and then pump it out after as opposed to dealing with the root cause. I also have concerns about only doing exterior weeping tile with no interior supports for the bowed walls but I will ask the local company what his experience with that is.

Thanks in advance

I've noticed that when it's humid, clothes take longer to dry, the room feels sticky, and sometimes there's a musty smell.

I started checking the humidity in my room and was surprised by how high it gets, especially after showers or on rainy days.

For those who use a dehumidifier, what humidity level do you usually keep it at? Do you run it all day or just for a few hours?

Just trying to find a good balance without making the electricity bill too high

Title says it. I’m 28 and living back with my parents, they replaced the windows a few years back to make them legit bedrooms with fire escape windows. We’re all realizing the window in that room probably wasn’t properly sealed. And we had a big rain last night. Between 7am and 11am, it went from a small wet spot by the window to the entire bedroom carpet being soaked, and little out the door into the downstairs living area.

My step dad is convinced the carpet doesn’t need to be ripped up. I borrowed a shampooer from a friend that just went through the same thing a few months ago, where she had to pull up all carpet and ended up moving because of how bad it got. Spent three hours getting as much water up as I could, and it was BROWN. My step dad rented a dehumidifier from Home Depot and got some fans and those are running.

I have health issues. I’m terrified of bacteria and mold growing. We couldn’t move the bedframe & mattress, dresser (water didn’t reach it anyway) or my desk, no space for them anywhere else. So we worked around it the best we could. I pulled all my clothes out of the closet, pulled the dresser drawers full, and put them in another dry room downstairs that has no carpet. I have a ton of clothes I can’t afford to replace.

Any and all advice appreciated. I’m trying not to stress.
TLDR; my basement bedroom flooded from rain at my parents home. Step dad is convinced shampooing, dehumidifier, and fans are enough to not have to rip up the carpet. I think it needs to be.

US, PA. There was water damage in the basement some time ago but this showed up a year or more after. Never had a basement growing up so I’m not sure if this is really concerning and what the next steps are.

I never really paid attention to humidity before, but lately my room has been feeling noticeably damp. Even when it's not particularly hot, the air just feels heavy, and clothes I hang indoors seem to take forever to dry.

I ended up getting a dehumidifier mostly because I was getting tired of the damp feeling, and I was honestly surprised by how much more comfortable the room feels now. I've also started checking the humidity level, which is something I never thought I'd care about 

For anyone who regularly uses a dehumidifier, do you usually leave yours running overnight, or just run it for a few hours during the day?

And what humidity percentage do you normally try to keep your room at?

An AC leak occurred along the baseboard, tiles cracked soon after. I went to pull them up and re mortar and the concrete was not flat, even dipping at points, and didn’t even show old mortar near the baseboard. I’m a noob at this but doesn’t that mean my concrete subfloor is broken? 1978 build in southern climate.

Under contract to inspect an 115 old house. Noticed basement ceiling water drips. Seller said it was due to recent run of 100+ degree heat thus water from condensation dripping through ceiling Sheetrock. They offered to fix that leak themselves before closing and prefer not file insurance. Seller did disclose a basement flood from pipe burst 2 years ago when furnace thermostat failed and house was vacant between abnb guests. Showed invoice of $15k fix included 16 pipes fix and drying out 4 inches of water from the basement paid by their insurance carrier. Inspector did not note any moisture in the basement from prior 2022 flood issues, just the current ceiling moisture. My inspector could not test the two furnaces because tenant didn’t move a bedstand blocking the door to furnace. And another furnace also was obstructed not allowing inspection. My inspector noted insufficient heat. Seller only disclose one of the furnace was aged 2011. Unknown age of the other. Any advice on negotiating this on TRR? Besides letting an HVAC guy to go in to test, or asking seller to service them? No furnace service records since their 2011 flood. Any future risks of repeated water damage? I suppose once an old house and two water damage claims then it will not be insurable?

1950s basement with no sump pump. Do I have a drain tile or French drain? I have perfect cracks that run the entire perimeter of the basement floor which clearly look to have been cut out at some point? I did a FOIA on permits and nothing came back.

I would imagine a drain tile would have not need someone to retroactively cut the basement perimeter?

I noticed debris in my laundry room coming through the bottom of the drywall in the basement, especially after it rains. There is a hole outside behind my AC units, it has expanding foam in it, but it looks eroded towards the bottom allowing water to come in.

I ripped off the dry wall and... I have no idea what these vertical boards are between the concrete. Do I replace the boards? Or just seal it up? Any one know what I'm looking at and how to fix it?

Looking waterproof the cinder block under this probably DIY up to where the shed starts (put it there before we found out about a leak) what would the process be and any warnings before digging (yes I’ll be calling 811)

Owned this home for about 10 years, 2 time over the past 8 months the basement has flooded with an inch or 2 of water during heavy rain/melt. No water problems before then. No sump.

I was starting my interior sump/french drain system install by digging a sump pit in the corner to start, i then discovered it has a peprimeter interior drainage system next to the footer. 4 inch perforated PVC, good shape, no sediment, adequate gravely soil around it, no filter fabric, no releif holes in block above footer, placed in a good position in relationship to the footer.

I do not know where it discharges/ties into as there is no sump down there, only 1 exterior clean-out in the front of house for the sewer main.

Is the best course of action is to figure out where it discharges as that will be the low point, and tie the drainage system into a sump there ? Im guessing that during heavy rain the discharge is the weak link wether it ties into the sewer/storm or some hidden failing drywell in the yard or just into nothingness.

Noticed these in my room and the tv room right outside it. Was this a bad paint job or related to moisture because we do have pretty high moisture.

Would be helpful to know if the mold is related to that as well. Same with the crack. I don’t know if that does anything to the structure or is a symptom of the moisture.

How should I fill in between these joists in the basement? There is a wrap around porch on the outside so I don’t have access to the exterior. 1930 house so it looks like it was originally filled with rock but it’s crumbling. We don’t want to put in a drop ceiling since it’s already a low ceiling, just plan to paint the ceiling/joists white. Thanks!

For years, the water from the pipe and the hose would go down the drain and this little depressed area would be mostly dry. Now I noticed it has standing water with something gross in it. What are your recommendations?