Water infiltration in a home: causes, signs and solutions

Water infiltration can appear after heavy rain, gradually over the seasons or following a pipe problem. In a cellar, garage or basement, a few centimetres of water are already enough to cause serious damage.

Water can enter through a crack, a buried wall, a roof, a window or door, a faulty pipe or a rainwater drainage defect. It can also be linked to water pressure in the ground, a temporarily high water table or rising damp.

Damp patches, rings, whitish marks, peeling paint, musty smells, visible water on the floor, or marks that appear mainly after rain. How it evolves over time is also valuable information for finding the cause.

These phenomena look alike but are not treated the same way. Rain-related infiltration requires tracing the water's path; a leak means finding the network concerned; condensation depends on air temperature and humidity. A correct diagnosis is essential before any works.

Poor drainage of roof or runoff water concentrates water near the foundations. In Wallonia, rainwater management favours infiltration on the plot where technical conditions allow, before other drainage routes. It must therefore be designed according to the land and the applicable regulations.

When a low area regularly receives water with no gravity drainage possible, a sump fitted with a pump collects and removes the water. The system is sized according to the incoming volume, the head and the discharge pipe.

Managing water and removing its cause are two different things. A pump prevents water building up in a cellar, but if water enters through a crack or a waterproofing defect, the origin also needs treating. The aim is to combine, where necessary, waterproofing, drainage, rainwater management and pumping.

Regular maintenance of gutters, downpipes, drains, inspection chambers, pumps and drainage devices reduces the risks. In exposed areas, a level alarm or a second pump can be considered depending on the level of safety required.

Weber Water offers pumping, lifting and water management solutions for homes, buildings and commercial installations. After analysing the layout, a suitable solution is designed to collect, lift and remove the water.