Key takeaways

  • Most basement dampness starts outside
  • The first fixes are gutters, downspouts and grading
  • Exterior drains relieve pressure that surface fixes cannot
  • Interior systems manage water after it enters

Start with the roof

Clogged gutters and short downspouts dump huge volumes beside the wall. Fix these first.

Then the grade

Soil that settles against the house channels water toward it. Regrading to slope away is a cheap and powerful fix.

Then surface drains

Channel drains and catch basins intercept surface flow before it reaches the wall.

Then subsurface drains

When groundwater presses on the foundation, a footing drain or French drain lowers the water table beside the wall.

Interior systems

Interior drains and sump pumps manage water that still gets in. They are a backup to exterior control, not a replacement.

Quick answers

What is the first thing I should check?

Gutters and downspouts, then the ground slope near the house.

Is a wet basement always a drainage issue?

Not always. Plumbing leaks and condensation can mimic seepage.

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