Leaks from exterior walls can occur by several means.
Water leaking into walls from outside.
A few weeks ago a horrible nor easter caused water to leak over her basement wall.
Water that enters the roof can follow rafters and then wall studs to the floor before seeping out around a wall.
Water trapped in the soil around the walls puts pressure on the mortar between blocks and gradually works its way through.
Foundation walls crack and leak when water soaks into the walls and eventually begins to drain inside of your basement.
Holes cracks gaps and penetration in the walls can all lead to water leakage.
Leaks in foundation walls are usually fixed in 1 of 2 ways.
Water leaks are often because of pinholes in your plumbing system or small failures in caulking or other exterior materials.
Hidden water leaks behind walls can be especially dangerous because the water will get absorbed into flooring drywall and ceilings as well as wooden support beams and sheetrock.
But don t cover the walls with insulation if water is leaking in from outside.
A waterproof membrane is often installed on the outside of the basement wall and the system also requires putting in a buried sump pump where water will collect and then be pumped to the surface.
These leaks are seldom caused by faulty plumbing.
Sara lives in a brick veneer home that s only 30 years old.
Water takes the easiest path down to the ground so it will often travel along the framing in the walls.
In cold climates insulating basement walls also saves energy and reduces your heating bill.
If given enough time a slow leak can result in very serious structural damage that will make the restoration process longer and more expensive.
You ll just create a potential mold problem.
Given the right conditions water can seep into your house through the foundation walls.
Penetration in the walls includes cable wires or pipes that pierce the walls from the outside.
If enough water builds up in the cracked mortar it can begin to seep through the wall.
She described it as a miniature niagara falls.
Water will definitely find a way into your home if there are any flaws in the structure.
Seeping is especially common in basement walls or walls at least partially underground.