Basement Waterproofing in Fostoria, Ohio

Fostoria is split across three counties: Hancock, Seneca and Wood. About 9,000 of its roughly 13,000 residents live on the Seneca County side. It's flat country, and the city draws its water from the East Branch Portage River and a set of six upground reservoirs.

Flat ground matters for basements. Water doesn't run off quickly, so after a long rain the soil around a foundation stays saturated longer. Homes with older block foundations, or with gutters and downspouts that empty right next to the house, tend to show it first as damp walls and water at the floor joint.

Fostoria at a glance

Common basement problems in Fostoria

On flat lots, the biggest wins are often outside: extending downspouts several feet from the house and making sure the soil slopes away from the foundation. If water still gets in, an interior drain tile and sump pump is the most common permanent fix for older basements.

If you already have a sump pump that runs constantly in spring, that's a sign of a high water table. A battery backup is worth asking about, since storms that raise the water table are also the ones that knock out power.

• Look at the joint where the wall meets the floor after a heavy rain. Damp lines there usually mean water pressure from outside, not a plumbing leak.
• Check block walls for white, chalky deposits (efflorescence). They are left behind by water moving through the masonry.
• Walk the outside of the house during a storm. Downspouts that dump next to the foundation are one of the cheapest problems to fix.
• If you have a sump pump, pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it starts, empties the pit and shuts off.