The Busy Dog Blog

Keeping Water Out Of Your Basement With An Emergency Sump Pump

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Sump pumps are excellent at removing unwanted water from under your basement floor.  This naturally occurring water could otherwise flood your basement rendering the space unusable.  In many cases, a sump pump cycles on and off several times daily, removing hundreds of gallons of water per day.  During a wet season, there is no doubt that a sump pump failure will result in a basement full of water.  If you have concerns about your basement succumbing to this fate, consider an emergency sump pump powered by a battery as a backup.

A battery powered backup emergency sump pump is designed to operate as an auxiliary pump to a regularly powered sump pump.  Regular sump pumps are not infallible and can fail for many reasons.  Often they wear out due to age, depending on how often they run.  Even high quality units will wear out over time.  Power outages are another cause of sump pump failure.  A battery backup pump can serve to ease you through a short period of lost power and maintain water removal for your basement.  Another type of failure is a mechanical failure of the float switch, often caused by debris getting caught in the switch mechanism.  Sometimes, the natural vibration of the pump will cause it to shift slightly in the sump liner causing the float to bump into the side of the liner, which prevents it from moving properly.   

An emergency battery backup sump pump works similarly to a regular pump, in that it comes on automatically when the water rises to a certain level.  This is a necessary feature and usually involves a float switch similar to the corded main pump.  The battery is best suited for times when power goes out and these pumps require that the battery is charged on a regular basis, so an automatic charging unit is usually included.

When considering if you need a backup sump pump or not, consider the potential for water damage in your own home.  If your pump runs more than once per hour, you could experience very high water levels in your basement in just a short period if the main pump ceases to work properly.  As noted above, there are many reasons that a pump can fail, and if it does you will need to react quickly to prevent water from flooding your basement if you do not have some backup pump ready.  Imagine having to replace a sump pump in a rush to prevent water damage.  This would be a difficult prospect, and an emergency plumber service may have to be called to pump out your basement.  An emergency sump pump will by you a lot of valuable time to address the failure of the main pump.

Another great device to consider with the purchase of an emergency sump pump is a high water alert.  This device uses a water sensor that triggers an audible alarm when it gets wet.  This can be placed in a position so that it will sound a warning when water reaches a certain level, notifying you of a problem.

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About James Pratt:

Waterproofing Membrane Installation

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The average homeowner is very unlikely to be familiar with the term “waterproofing membrane” so before it becomes an all too familiar term for a homeowner with a water problem in their basement, it would be a good idea to understand what it is and how the installation of a waterproofing membrane can benefit your basement and your home.

Understanding The Purpose Of Waterproofing Membranes

As an essential part of an effective waterproofing system, waterproofing membranes can help to eliminate water from entering into your basement. Using a waterproofing membrane can prove to be a lot more effective than many of the other waterproofing methods simply because a waterproofing membrane will not react to water much in the same way that painted products will.

Over the course of several years of being exposed to the water in and around your basement walls waterproofing paints can bubble, flake, and peel away as a result of being exposed to water for an extended period of time. By making use of a waterproofing membrane, either as a stand-alone method, or in conjunction with another waterproofing method, you will be able to reduce the frequency that you redo the waterproofing on your basement’s walls.

As a general rule of thumb, experts recommend not using a waterproofing membrane as a stand-alone water prevention method simply because it will be much more effective when other basement waterproofing methods are simultaneously used.

Types Of Waterproofing Membranes

Waterproofing membrane installation can be a very labor intensive and tricky project for even the most ambitious of homeowners to tackle so it is important to get an accurate quote from a professional who can help you to identify the types of waterproofing methods that will be effective in your basement; and who can oversee the successful installation of the various methods.

There are several types of waterproofing membranes that can help to control the amount of moisture that enters into your basement. Remember that no two homes and basements are alike, so it is important that you allow a professional to examine your home’s basement in order to make a determination of what the best course of action will be.

The service professional who examines your basement may recommend one of the following solutions:

• A Liquid Waterproofing Membrane: This is amongst the most frequently used types of waterproofing membranes and is very cost effective. It can help to waterproof even those hard-to-reach areas!
• Emulsion Waterproofing Membrane: A petroleum based waterproofing membrane, this is a thick and sticky product that is incredibly water resistant.
• Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane: The longest-lasting type of waterproofing membrane, this product is impervious to liquids and even gases.

While you could attempt to a waterproofing membrane installation yourself, it is not advisable simply due to the fact that you may not be aware of all of the areas of concern in your basement – the well-meaning person in your local big box home improvement store can only point out the line of products that their store carries – he cannot help you to pinpoint additional areas of concern that should be addressed. With this in mind, consider saving yourself a significant amount of stress and valuable time by bringing in the experts!

Receive a Free In-Home No Obligation Waterproofing Quote Today

About James Pratt:

Basement Waterproofing Service – To Save You Time And Money

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No matter what your basement is currently being used for – whether to house your neglected home gym equipment, or as a converted living space - ensuring that it is as watertight as possible can go a long way towards saving you a significant amount of valuable time and money. Even the smallest crack can play host to a slow and steady trickle of water entering into your basement; a tiny trickle of water can cause the crack to further expand while also inviting mold and mildew into your home.

A professional basement waterproofing service can help a homeowner to identify the source of a leak, or in extreme cases, a flood, and work towards finding the best resolution to the problem that you are facing in an effort to minimize the existing damage and prevent further damage from occurring.

Understanding The Problem

When it comes to problems frequently seen in basements, water damage in and around the wall and floor joints ranks right up there as the number one concern that homeowners need to be aware of. A damp wall can quickly turn into a foot of standing water that can take a significant amount of time and money to clean up and repair.

Water in your basement can not just lead to the damage of any property currently being housed in your basement, but it can also lead to a very serious problem with mold and mildew in your home along with jeopardizing the overall structural integrity of your home. One small crack in the wall can lead to larger cracks which can, in turn, lead to significant cracks and gaps in both the walls and foundation of your home’s basement.

Many homeowners do not realize that because basements are built largely below ground level, they are surrounded by soil that has a fluctuating water table (this refers to the amount of water in the soil at any given point in time). The water in the soil under intense pressure which, in turn, can cause it to exert pressure on even the tiniest crack in a foundation wall.

Prevention Is Key

If you have not yet experienced water damage in your basement then you may want to consider taking the appropriate steps to prevent it from becoming a problem for you. Give serious thought to a consult with a basement waterproofing service professional – preventing the problem is always a much more affordable option than repairing and cleaning up of the situation.

A professional who has extensive waterproofing experience can not only help you to identify potential trouble areas but can also offer you one or more solutions to keep the water out of your basement.

When you bring a basement waterproofing service into your home, your basement and your current situation will be assessed and a workable plan of action will be devised. You will very likely be presented with one of several options: professional waterproofing of the basement’s interior walls and floors, interior and exterior drainage systems, and exterior waterproofing.

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About James Pratt:

Ineffective Exterior Methods of Basement Waterproofing – Exterior French Drains

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Exterior French drains are a realistic solution during construction. In fact, most new homes today do have an exterior french drain system. However, in a post-construction setting – when a water problem is diagnosed in a completed home – exterior French drains are not a realistic solution. With landscaping, decks and the necessity for heavy equipment to transverse the grounds, exterior French drains should be avoided once the house is built. Another negative factor is the fact that these systems can rarely be warrantied by legitimate companies.

Exterior French drains also tend to clog. During my tenure in the basement waterproofing industry, I have performed repairs at many homes with exterior french drains in place. The systems failed because of clogging with dirt. Although these systems can be wrapped with felt and back-filled with stone, dirt will still get into the stone and around the felt and can completely clog the system.

Another area of concern with exterior french drains is where the water should be drained. This can be a significant problem if the house is anywhere from 5’ to 8’ below grade and is running a pipe around the perimeter. This pipe needs to be pitched and dropped off to a point where the water may drain away. Some methods currently being used to accomplish this are dry wells, draining to a storm drain system or draining to an exterior or interior sump pump. These methods have the potential to be extremely unreliable.

The main reason that we do not recommend exterior french drains as a primary means of basement waterproofing is that they will clog. Catch basins and pits can fill up with water – supersaturating and causing back flow around the pipes – resulting in a bigger mess than you had before.

Want to read more of James Pratt’s Book? – Click Here.

Where Water Can Enter The Basement: The Floor / Wall Joint

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In order to know how to waterproof a basement, you need to know how water enters the basement. There are six different ways water can enter the basement:

1. Floor / wall joint
2. Floor crack
3. Wall crack
4. Bulkhead
5. Window
6. Over the sill plate and down the wall

In this post I am going to go over the first way water enters a basement – the floor / wall joint.

Floor/Wall Joint

The floor/wall joint intersection is the most common entry source of water infiltrating the basement. This is where the foundation wall meets the floor. The water comes in from the outside over the footing under the foundation wall and up through the intersection where the foundation wall and floor converge. This type of wall seepage is seen most commonly when it rains. The reason for this is due to the over-dig mechanic previously described. If you have 3” to 4” or more of water in your basement, the source of the water is probably from the floor/wall joint. Water may seep in from other locations, but the most heavy water intrusion will be from the floor/wall joint.

Due to the nature of concrete, when one concrete structure is poured and another concrete structure is poured next to it (or on it), a seam is created between the two concrete structures. For example, the footing is poured – the foundation wall is poured – and finally, the floor is poured. Each concrete structure (the footing, the wall and the floor) is poured separately. There is now a seam between each of these three structures. This allows the potential for water (under pressure) to come into the basement area. The points of entry are over the foundation footing, between the foundation wall, underneath the foundation and up through the seams between the foundation footing and the floor. This floor/wall joint seepage is very common and is a predominant reason for basement flooding.

Basement Waterproof Deep French Drain vs High Tech Patented System

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James Pratt, Founder and President of Basement Technologies compares old-style deep french drain systems with newer high-tech patented basement waterproofing systems.

Basement Technologies Featured in US Developer’s Journal

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Recently, an interview entitled – Reclaiming an Industry Boston Basement Technologies, with James Pratt was featured in the US Developer’s Journal. The article goes over how Basement Technologies was started, how it has grown and how it will continue to grow in the future. Some of the key ideas that James Pratt employs when working with customers and developing Basement Technologies dealerships are detailed including, ethics, loyalty and hard work. It is definitely a good read if you are interested in basement waterproofing, or general business growth. Here is an excerpt from the article:

In 1997, BBT decided to go international after Pratt created literature that would educate companies all over the world on the intricacies of running a successful waterproofing company. Pratt’s detailed manuals cover every aspect of his business — from the installations, marketing and sales all the way down to the book- keeping. This comprehensive literature, offered in conjunction with the unique patented products designed by Pratt, has made BT an international powerhouse in the basement waterproofing industry. Dealers come to Boston for two-week training sessions upon initiation and are given access to BBT’s patented basement waterproofing and dehumidifying products.

“The concept of having a turn-key business start-up package, with all of the methodology and functionality, made complete sense to me because when you start in any business, there’s a learning curve. That learning curve can be devastating,” Pratt explains. “Offering support during that learning curve … is very important. Otherwise, there’s a high crash-and-burn factor.”

Click Here to read the entire article.

Radon Systems With A French Drain

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We’ve got another basement waterproofing video for you to watch today! James Pratt, Owner and President of Basement Technologies discusses radon systems in conjunction with french drain systems around the perimeter of a waterproofing system.

Leave us a comment and tell us what you thought

Ineffective Exterior Methods of Basement Waterproofing – Sodium Bentonite

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This is an excerpt from James Pratt’s new book, Why a Basement Leaks and How To Fix It Permanently!

Sodium Bentonite is a substance that was manufactured primarily for the iron and steel industry. Sodium Bentonite was manufactured in sheets and put over the iron and steel to stop rainwater from rusting the material. When the rain hit the Sodium Bentonite sheets, the sheets would form themselves around the iron or steel and “wrap” it to prevent the rusting. The sheets would soak up the water, thus stopping the water penetration. In the 1970’s, knowing the sheets were used in this way, a basement waterproofing company sought to powderize the Sodium Bentonite and inject it around the perimeter of the exterior of the house. The thought process was that the powder would seal the foundation wall and footing joint. Several companies jumped on this band wagon and began using the Sodium Bentonite across the country.

This method rarely worked. Water would seep underneath the foundation footing to the floor wall joint by the tubes inserted in the lawn to install the Sodium Bentonite. The method for installation of the powdered Bentonite was to put tubes in the lawn and inject the powder to intersect with the footing.

A series of lawsuits ensued and most of the companies that used the injected Sodium Bentonite methods were put out of business due to the numerous complaints.

It was common for these companies to state (in fine print) on the proposals that they would return – at an additional cost – and install a drainage system to stop the flooding, if the Sodium Bentonite did not work. However, be aware that there are still companies today that claim Sodium Bentonite works. This approach sounds attractive to the homeowner because there is no disruption inside the home, but usually Sodium Bentonite is not a cure for a flooded basement. Most reliable basement waterproofing companies do not offer Sodium Bentonite as a solution. The Sodium Bentonite sheets – placed on the foundation over the footing – may be suitable as a damp proofing method. But remember – water can still infiltrate underneath the footing and the virgin soil – so the flooding problem may continue. Be aware that in post-construction basement waterproofing, digging out around the perimeter and installing sheets of Sodium Bentonite is an ineffective and inadequate waterproofing solution.

Want to read James Pratt’s Book? – Click Here.

James Pratt, Basement Technologies on Fox 25

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James Pratt, Basement Technologies, President and Founder discusses the recent rainy weather on Fox 25 of Boston.