Rain Water Leaking on the Floor

Cracked Foundation Walls

• Rainwater can accumulate in your basement through cracks in the walls of your foundation. If these cracks are toward the footing or bottom of the foundation, rainwater can seep up through your basement floor when the water saturates the surrounding soil. You may begin to notice small puddles of water forming around areas of your basement floor where a crack exists. If your basement has full carpeting, the presence of water may not become apparent until the water rises above the carpeting or you step on an affected area.

Malfunctioning Drainage System

• When a drainage system is working properly, it moves rainwater away from your home and keeps your foundation relatively dry. A malfunctioning drainage system or sump pump can cause rainwater to accumulate around your home. Over time this water may seep into the property's foundation. When heavy rain occurs, the accumulated water can make its way through the foundation's porous concrete and into your basement. This results in similar flooding conditions as with a crack in the building's foundation. Unclogging the drainage system is the only way to stop the flooding since you don't have holes to patch or leaks to plug.

Leaking Roof

• When water flows, it seeks the lowest point. A leak in your home's roof may cause water damage to your ceilings, but it may also damage your flooring. Rainwater leaking in from a damaged roof can run down behind walls and baseboards to accumulate on your floors where it can't go any lower or encounters a well-sealed space. Checking the walls in the upper floors of your home for damp spots can confirm that you have a leak in your roof.

Dangers of Pooling Water

• Rainwater pooling in your home not only represents costly damage to the building, but it also poses a significant health risk for you and your family. Failure to properly dry wet spaces in your home can lead to bacterial growth and mold development. Bacterial growth can rot your home from the inside out, while mold growth can cause respiratory ailments, headaches and even death depending on the particular species. Treating affected areas of your home with a mixture of bleach and water is essential to arrest the development of harmful bacteria and protect the components of your home susceptible to damage, including wood and drywall.