Seeing Wet Spots on Basement Carpeting?

Question - I've detected a wet spot on the basement carpeting which runs along a paneled wall and this paneled wall has a plastic vapor barrier behind it. The wet spot runs along the wall for about 2 to 3 feet and extends about 4 inches away from the wall at its worst. The home was constructed in 1927 and the previous owners did have some basement water work done maybe 20 25 years ago. I have had a similar problem in the past, again as I have described above along the walls on a very limited basis and only when we have experienced massive amounts of rain within a short period of time. It has been several years since I have detected a moist carpet. I have inspected the area outside and there is a shrub Evergreen type about 3 feet away from the moist area in the basement. This shrub has been in place for probably 25 years. Just a guess since we have owned this home for 17 years. Some of the problem may have been caused freezing and thawing during the winter months.

The basement needs to be continually checked. You're probably going to want to remove some paneling and examine to see if there are any visible cracks on the walls. Its always important to make sure the ground is pitched away from all the walls so that water does not run into the basement in heavy rains or next spring - melting snow. Downspouts should be attached and gutters cleaned of debris. You may have a drain tile problem that will need to be checked.