How to Keep a Cellar From Leaking

Inspect the areas outside the cellar that may be causing excess water to accumulate and leak inside. Fill any low spots in the ground with topsoil and pack the top with the back of a shovel to direct the flow of water away from the house.

Maintain clean downspouts and gutters to prevent an overflow of water during a rain or storm. Rake dirt, debris and leaves from the gutters, since clogged gutters cause an overflow of water that pools in areas next to your home’s foundation. The pools of water seep into the ground and cause cellar leaks.

Observe the gutters during a rainstorm to ensure excess water flows away from the house instead of pressing up against the cellar walls. Install splash protectors or gutter extensions under the downspouts to direct water away from your house and keep it from accumulating and penetrating the ground around the basement.

Repair cracks in the cellar walls to keep them from leaking. Remove loose or crumbling concrete or brick from around the crack with a chisel and hammer. Prepare quick-dry patching compound according to the label directions and insert it inside the crack using a putty knife. Smooth the top of the repair patch so it falls flush with the surrounding wall surface. Allow the compound to dry thoroughly before applying a coat of touch-up paint to the repair patch.

Apply a coat of waterproof sealant over the walls and floor of the cellar to prevent water from seeping in. Use a paint roller to apply the sealant evenly over each surface.

Install a French drain, a linear drainage system near the edge of the cellar to direct the flow of excess water to a pre-determined outlet point away from your home. Dig the trench 8 to 10 inches deep and spread 2 inches of gravel in it. Lay 4-inch perforated pipes in the trench, with the holes positioned down. Cover the pipe and the remaining trench with gravel and plant grass seed or sod on the top.