Plumbing
What to Do About Water in Your Crawl Space: Causes, Solutions, and Prevention
January 13, 2025
If you find water in your crawl space, you need to act immediately to prevent it from damaging your home. This means locating the water source by checking for common problems like poor drainage and high groundwater levels and then correcting the issue.
However, many homeowners aren’t sure what signs to look for when investigating crawl space water. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide, covering:
- Common culprits behind water in your crawl space
- Quick fixes and long-term solutions
- Crawl space water prevention tips
- When it’s time to call in the professionals
- Keeping your crawl space dry and your home safe
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about keeping your home dry and avoiding water damage.
Stop Water in Its Tracks – Call Bonney for Crawl Space Solutions Today!
Having trouble with your crawl space plumbing or yard drainage? Call Bonney, Sacramento’s leading A+ Better Business Bureau member. We handle repairs 7 days a week and offer unparalleled quality craftsmanship.
Common Culprits Behind Water in Your Crawl Space
Wondering what to do when there’s water under your house? Start by exploring the crawl space with a flashlight in hand. Water can build up under your house due to plumbing issues or from external sources, so you should systematically rule out each source.
The water might have ended up under your home after heavy rain. However, if the weather has been dry, you’ll want to pay more attention to the pipes and sewer line under your home, as they may be leaking.
Other common causes of crawl space water include:
- Poor yard drainage
- Improperly positioned downspouts
- Clogged gutters
- A high water table
The water might also be coming from leaking fixtures, pipes, or appliances indoors, so don’t forget to check the subfloor.
Quick Fixes and Long-Term Solutions
The ideal way to remove water from your crawl space depends on how it got there in the first place. Fixing leaking pipes and fixtures will solve the issue if that’s the source of the water, as will clearing out clogged gutters and downspouts.
If you’re dealing with water in your crawl space after heavy rain, this also tends to be a temporary problem. You can usually rectify it with a wet vacuum or a sump pump. However, storms can also place strain on your home’s pipelines, so consider scheduling plumbing maintenance before heavy rain occurs again.
If flooding happens often, you might need a more long-term solution. Options include:
- Regrading your yard
- Installing vapor barriers
- Installing a permanent sump pump
- Encapsulating your crawl space
- Installing catch basins and perimeter drains
Protecting Your Home: Crawl Space Water Prevention Tips
Installing a drainage system like a French drain or catch basin offers the strongest prevention against your crawl space being inundated with water again. However, other effective prevention measures include:
- Regularly checking all fixtures, pipes, drains, and appliances for leaks
- Staying on top of gutter maintenance
- Checking for slope changes in your yard
- Scheduling plumbing maintenance throughout the year
When It’s Time to Call in the Professionals
You should consider calling a professional if any of the following are true:
- DIY remedies don’t seem to stop water intrusion
- You can’t find the source of the water
- The problem worsens
If there’s more than a small puddle, contact a plumber immediately, as this excess water can quickly damage your home’s structure or cause mold growth. Professionals have the expertise to find where the problem is coming from and can recommend more effective, long-term solutions.
Keeping Your Crawl Space Dry and Your Home Safe
Water gets into your crawl space for many reasons, including heavy rain, leaking pipes, and issues with your gutters and downspouts, but it’s usually easy to manage. However, the only way to stop the problem from returning is to find the source and implement a long-term fix. If DIY measures and preventatives aren’t working, it might be time to reach out to a reputable plumber to fix things for good.
Protect Your Home From Water Damage – Let Bonney Keep Your Crawl Space Dry!
Don’t let water in your crawl space damage your home! Contact Bonney to investigate the problem, and our experienced professionals will examine every crevice of your crawl space and plumbing. We’re devoted to a more comfortable and happier tomorrow.