10 Holiday Basement Waterproofing Tips
Posted by Scott Souza on Wed, Dec 16, 2009 @ 03:49 PM
Basement Waterproofing: With the holiday season in full swing, most people are too busy to be thinking about the condition of their home. Because of this, it is usually during the holiday season when household problems that have gone unnoticed can become a huge problem, especially when it comes to basement waterproofing.
In order to help you deal with your waterproofing problems before they get out of hand, we have compiled a list of ten tips to help you solve your holiday basement waterproofing problems!
1. Have a basement sump pump
Basement sump pumps get rid of water that has built up usually in an area in the basement called a sump pit. The water may get in through the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system. If the basement is below the water table level, rain or natural ground water may seep in. A sump pump that does not look like a sump pump is a very desirable feature. Such sump pumps are available from Basement Technologies (1-800-BUSYDOG) with square lids, sealed units and hidden pipes.
2. Install a French drain
A French drain is a ditch covered with gravel or rock that moves away from your basement. It can have hollow pipes along the bottom which vent water that gets down into the gravel or rock. French drains are popular drainage systems, and are mostly used to stop water from getting into and damaging your basement. Be careful not to install circular pipes as these can suck dirt from under your footing and potentially cause your home to “sink”. Basement Technologies has an excellent patented product that alleviates such occurrences.
3. Encapsulate your crawl space
Crawlspace waterproofing involves three things, keeping moisture from getting into the crawl space, keeping moisture in a crawl space from getting into your house, and keeping the air inside your crawlspace dry. The crawl space encapsulation process starts with placing a vapor barrier over the crawlspace floor and foundation keeping outside air out and crawl space dampness in. It is important that a professional install the system and that it be sealed properly.
4. Seal all ends
Seal all vents to the Crawl Space and introduce mechanical ventilation such as a Bon Aire by Basement Technologies.
5. Use a basement dehumidifier
High levels of humidity can lead to the proliferation of mold and mildew which can be a risk to your family’s health and decrease the value of your property. Because of this, it is necessary to have a basement dehumidifier system installed. Many homeowners make the mistake of buying a cheap off-the-shelf basement dehumidifier thinking this will take care of their problems. However, with basement dehumidifiers, you get what you pay for. To remedy this we have created our own patented basement dehumidification systems, custom tailored to deal with any basement moisture problem.
6. Use a crawl space dehumidifier
Not only do you need to keep outside moisture from getting into your crawl space, but you also need to make sure the air inside stays dry. In order for crawl space encapsulation to be effective, the air needs to be moisture-free. Because of this, a proper crawl space dehumidifier needs to be put in place. Specialty dehumidifiers may be obtained directly through us.
7. Use a crawl space sump pump
When water enters your basement, the sump pump begins to work and pumps the water out of the crawl space through a discharge line. This is key to the removing ground water in your basement crawl space. With a good sump pump, you can keep your basement free of water buildup and keep ground water below the grade.
8. Make sure you have a sump pump battery backup
Some sump pumps have a battery backup hardwired into a home’s electrical system. Other sump pumps use the home’s pressurized water supply for power, in which case, electricity is not needed. Having a backup system for your basement sump pump is important because a sump pit may overflow if it is not always pumped. This could happen when the main power is out for a long period of time.
9. Eliminate basement mold & mildew
The most important thing in a wet or damp basement is to eliminate the source of the water. The source of the water infiltration must be identified and dealt with immediately. We cannot arrest the mold growth itself – but by eliminating the water infiltration, we eliminate the introduction of mold and mildew during the next rain storm.
10. Radon testing
Have a Radon Test performed to check your Radon levels.
Let us Solve Your Basement Waterproofing Problems: