If I had to point to the single most common cause of wet basements in New Hampshire, it would not be a crack in the foundation. It would be water that was never directed away from the house in the first place. Gutters, downspouts, and grading are the unsung heroes of a dry basement, and most of the time they are the first thing I check.
Gutters that overflow are usually either clogged, undersized, or pulling away from the roofline. When water spills over the edge instead of running through the gutter, it lands right at the foundation. Downspouts that dump water next to the house do the same thing — they take all that roof water and deposit it exactly where you don't want it. A simple extension, even just a few feet, can make a real difference.
Grading is the slope of the ground around the house. Ideally, the ground falls away from the foundation for at least the first several feet. When the ground slopes toward the house — which happens a lot as soil settles over the years — water naturally runs to the foundation instead of away from it. It is one of the easiest things to fix and one of the most overlooked.
Sump pumps are the last line of defense. If a home has one, I check that it runs, that the discharge pipe carries water well away from the house, and that there is a backup plan if the power goes out. A sump pump that discharges right next to the foundation just recycles the same water back into the basement.
During an inspection, I follow the evidence from the outside in: gutters and downspouts, grading, any signs of water at the foundation, and then the basement itself for staining, efflorescence, or dampness. The good news is that most drainage problems are straightforward and relatively inexpensive to address — especially compared to the cost of a finished basement full of water. Catching them early is the whole game.
Have questions about your home?
Mike Robicheau inspects every home himself and is happy to walk you through what he finds. Schedule your inspection or reach out with questions any time.
