How to look for signs of problems in your basement
It is easy to keep up with your home if you know how to properly maintain it, and if you know how to identify possible problems in your home. If you have a basement, it may be that you do not go down in it very often. Yet basements are where many problems in the home are most noticable. Many times, a broken pipe leaking into the basement goes undiscovered until a lot of damage has already been caused. But the good news is that if you just go down into the basement periodically and check things out, you can discover problems before they cause very much damage to your home.
The first thing to look for is any signs of water damage. Any warping or staining of the floor, walls, or ceiling is evidence that something is leaking somewhere. Even if the stain is small, do not ignore it! Chances are that a pipe somewhere is leaking, so that spot will only get bigger if you do ignore it! Finding a problem when it is still small will save you a ton of money and time! Sometimes, when you find a water damaged spot, you can trace the water stain back to the problematic leaking pipe. Also, check to see if there is condensation on any exposed pipes. This condensation can cause mold problems and even corrode the pipes. If you have exposed pipes that are sweating, you might want to insulate them.
The next most important thing to look at when avoiding water damage is your sump pump. A sump pump takes the excess water out of your home and sends it somewhere such as a municipal storm drain or a dry well where it can't cause damage to your house. Check the pump regularly to ensure that the pipe is not clogged and that it is functioning well. Most sump pumps are battery operated, so make sure you change the battery regularly.
Finally, make sure and check out your heating and air conditioning systems every once in awhile. These are not always located in the basement, but often they are. It is very important to the longevity of your heater and air conditioner that you replace the air filters regularly and clean debris and dust out of the machines so that they can function well. Doing all of these things will help keep your basement, and your home, in tip top shape!
