Basement Waterproofing in Willard, Ohio

Willard sits in southern Huron County on low, wet ground. Celeryville, a mile or two south of the city, is known for farming on muck soils, the dark organic soils that form where land was once marsh. The Willard Marsh Wildlife Area is also nearby.

Low ground and slow drainage mean the soil around foundations can stay wet for long periods. In homes with a sump pump, that often shows up as a pump that runs much of the spring. In homes without one, it shows up as water at the base of the walls.

Willard at a glance

Why sump pumps work hard in Willard

When the water table is high, a sump pump can cycle constantly. That wears pumps out faster, and a pump that fails during a storm can flood a basement in hours. A battery backup pump, and a high-water alarm, are worth discussing with your contractor.

It's also worth checking where your sump discharges. A line that drains next to the house, or into a yard that's already saturated, can send the same water right back to the foundation.

• 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.