Why Does My Basement Get Wet Every Time It Rains?

It's almost always one of four things

A basement that's only wet after rain points to surface water and pressure problems, not a one-time leak. In Pittsburgh, the usual causes are gutters/downspouts, poor grading, hydrostatic pressure, or the combined sewer system.

Gutters and downspouts

Overflowing or clogged gutters, and downspouts that dump water right next to the house, send rain straight to your foundation. Downspouts should carry water at least 10 feet away.

Grading that slopes toward the house

If the ground around your home slopes inward, rain runs toward the foundation instead of away. Pittsburgh's hilly lots make this common.

Hydrostatic pressure

When soil around the foundation soaks up rain, it gets heavy and pushes water through tiny cracks and the joint where the wall meets the floor. This is why water seems to come up through the floor.

Pittsburgh's combined sewers

About 75% of Pittsburgh's sewer system is combined — sewage and storm water share the same pipes. As little as a tenth of an inch of rain can overwhelm them and back water up through floor drains.

The fix

Surface fixes (gutters, grading) help, but recurring water usually needs a proper interior drainage system and sump pump to capture and remove it. A free inspection pinpoints the real cause. Call (412) 910-1540.