How to Fix Hydrostatic Pressure Affecting Your Basement

Written By Holly Richards-PurpuraPublished on 07/23/2024

In a previous article, we answered your burning questions about expansive soil issues and how they impact your home.

In this article, we’re going to address a similar subject: how to fix hydrostatic pressure in your basement.

This can be a complex issue, but we’re here to take the guesswork out of the process. Let’s jump right in!

How To Fix Hydrostatic Pressure in Basements

Hydrostatic pressure is a powerful force that can result in significant structural and water damage, but you can fight back to protect your home.

Starting from the outside, ensure your gutters and downspouts are in good working order. These systems are your first line of defense in protecting your home. They capture excess water and direct it away from your home to avoid puddles, hydrostatic pressure, and leaks.

installing wall braces and basement waterproofing to fix hydrostatic pressure in a basement

There are many things you can do inside your home to fix hydrostatic pressure in your basement, including reinforcing and repairing problematic walls. Hydrostatic pressure leads to cracks, inward bowing, and leaks, but solutions, including wall anchors, wall braces, and carbon fiber straps, permanently strengthen your basement walls and prevent further movement.

These wall repairs can also be paired with basement waterproofing solutions, including interior drainage, sump pumps, wall vapor barriers, and dehumidifiers. Fun fact: Our crew takes steps to reduce hydrostatic pressure in your basement when we install the perimeter drainage system. They drill weep holes into the walls to allow built-up water to escape into the system and alleviate pressure.

Does Every Home Experience Hydrostatic Pressure?

Though damaging, hydrostatic pressure is a natural occurrence that can impact any building. While most structures are built to withstand a certain amount of hydrostatic pressure, impact from this phenomenon is inevitable.

It all involves the construction process, including digging down into the earth, creating an artificial water table, and backfilling the soil, as you can see from this illustration.

While it’s common for most homes to experience hydrostatic pressure, the results—including bowing walls, cracks, and leaks—should not be considered normal conditions you must live with. Don’t ignore these symptoms, as they will worsen and lead to additional health and safety hazards for your family and home.

What to Do Next

In this post, we answered your question about how to fix hydrostatic pressure in your basement.

There’s a lot more to know about basement waterproofing and repair, so keep your eyes peeled for our next article!

If you are concerned about waterproofing and stabilizing your basement, Indiana Foundation Service offers a quick, easy, and completely free inspection. Just click the button below to get started!

Get a free estimate

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.

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