Below-grade spaces get wet from four directions: through the floor when the water table rises, through walls where grading pushes rain toward the foundation, down window wells, and from a sump pump that fails at the exact moment it matters. Each source has a different fix, which is why 'my basement is damp' needs a look, not a guess.
Mesa translation of this guide: most homes have no basement, so the below-grade spaces that matter are sunken living rooms, below-grade garages, and pool equipment pits. After a monsoon cell, walk those spaces first - they collect the water the rest of the house sheds.
Warning signs in order of seriousness: a musty smell that never leaves, efflorescence (white mineral lines) on foundation walls, rust at the base of the furnace or water heater, and stored cardboard going soft. Standing water is the last sign, not the first.
A battery backup for the sump pump and a high-water alarm are the two cheapest upgrades in this whole guide. Pumps fail during storms because storms are when power fails - plan for the coincidence.
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