If your house is located near a large water body for example the water table in the ground is likely to be very high.
Hydrostatic pressure water in basement.
Hydrostatic pressure can easily drive groundwater into the basement through gaps and cracks in the masonry.
The level of ground water.
As the rain seeps into the ground the water table rises because the ground is unable to soak up all the water.
High water pressure can also cause seepage through solid concrete.
Obviously the wall isn t meant to do that.
So how does hydrostatic pressure affect your foundation.
Efflorescence on basement walls or floor.
Walls that bow inward or outward.
The amount of hydrostatic pressure exerted on your basement walls will depend on the water table i e.
Humidity in the basement.
Water weighs slightly more than 60lbs.
The foundation concrete is a porous material.
Over time accumulations of sediment can block the drain pipes.
When soil water pressure increases so does the potential for leakage into your basement.
Waterproofing paint is designed to withstand pressures in the range of 8 to 12 psi.
As the hydrostatic water pressure mounts it starts to press in on the foundation walls which bulge inward.
Other visible signs of basement moisture problems due to hydrostatic pressure often include.
If you have an older house within town and the house has a basement with no sump pump it s likely the perimeter foundation drain system connects directly.
Hydrostatic pressure can push water through hairline cracks.
Groundwater is typically under higher pressure than that so if you have active leaking in your basement walls waterproofing paint won t stop it.
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.
Symptoms of this are water coming up through cracks in the basement concrete floor or water coming in at multiple locations.
Other visible signs of basement moisture problems due to hydrostatic pressure often include.
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.
This means that near microscopic holes and passages in its structure allow water flow through.
Ground water picks up soil sediment sand and mud as it travels down through the soil.
Hydrostatic pressure can also result from water that is already in the soil i e.
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.
This is potentially the most common impact of hydrostatic pressure in your basement.
These are some of the impacts.