Symptoms of this are water coming up through cracks in the basement concrete floor or water coming in at multiple locations.
Hydrostatic pressure water in basement.
Hydrostatic pressure can also result from water that is already in the soil i e.
When soil water pressure increases so does the potential for leakage into your basement.
This is potentially the most common impact of hydrostatic pressure in your basement.
Ground water picks up soil sediment sand and mud as it travels down through the soil.
Hydrostatic pressure refers to a water pressure and is a major cause of basement water problems.
If your house is located near a large water body for example the water table in the ground is likely to be very high.
As the rain seeps into the ground the water table rises because the ground is unable to soak up all the water.
Obviously the wall isn t meant to do that.
This means that near microscopic holes and passages in its structure allow water flow through.
This rising water table creates hydrostatic pressure against your foundation and the pressurized water will find every little crack chink and hole in your foundation walls and floor and make its way into your basement.
Efflorescence on basement walls or floor mold growth humidity in the basement strange smells in the basement walls that bow inward or outward cracks in walls.
Hydrostatic pressure is the technical term for water pressure in the soil around your foundation and it s a major cause of basement water problems.
The level of ground water.
Groundwater is typically under higher pressure than that so if you have active leaking in your basement walls waterproofing paint won t stop it.
As the hydrostatic water pressure mounts it starts to press in on the foundation walls which bulge inward.
Efflorescence on basement walls or floor.
The amount of hydrostatic pressure exerted on your basement walls will depend on the water table i e.
Other visible signs of basement moisture problems due to hydrostatic pressure often include.
The foundation concrete is a porous material.
Walls that bow inward or outward.
Other visible signs of basement moisture problems due to hydrostatic pressure often include.
Strange smells in the basement.
Hydrostatic pressure can easily drive groundwater into the basement through gaps and cracks in the masonry.
Over time accumulations of sediment can block the drain pipes.
Waterproofing paint is designed to withstand pressures in the range of 8 to 12 psi.
So how does hydrostatic pressure affect your foundation.
Humidity in the basement.
These are some of the impacts.
Hydrostatic pressure can push water through hairline cracks.
Once the drainage pipes are blocked the water table can rise and create hydrostatic pressure underneath the basement floor and along the walls.