As your foundation soils become saturated with moisture, they swell and put tension on your foundation. Water then infiltrates your below-grade space through any opening available, including cracks, pipes, windows, or other holes.

Sump pumps are sometimes essential in keeping water out of basements. Think of a basement waterproofing system as the body’s circulatory system; a properly functioning sump pump is the heart of the system. Older, failing sump pumps will only allow water to continue to collect in the basement.

Excavated soil that's replaced around a finished foundation isn't as compact as the undisturbed soil. As a result, the soil absorbs water, rapidly enclosing the house, adding pressure on the foundation and causing cracks.

Clogged or above-ground exterior drainage pipes could allow water to puddle next to the home and find its way inside any crack or gap in porous block foundation walls. Above-ground downspout conductor lines are unsightly tripping and safety hazards. Burying these lines under the ground and directing them far away from your home is the best way to keep water from downspout conductor lines out of the house.

You also need to think about the condition of this buried drainage system. These pipes fail to do their job if they crack or collapse, and you could end up with puddles of water in your basement. Older clay pipes commonly split, break, or crack.

Some traditional downspout conductor lines buried underground have no outlet for drainage. Since they are sitting in the ground, they could become clogged with dirt and other debris. This could lead to a back-up or overflow of water that will cause additional headaches.