Basement Flooding — More Than “Once In A Lifetime”!

Posted by cynthia in Basement Flood, Basement Waterproofing, Featured, Sump Pumps | 0 comments

by Jacques Bouchard

Homeowners can go years without using their battery backup sump pump system. But, as is being discovered in the Northeast these past few months, when you DO need a battery backup — you really need it!

Between Hurricane Irene last August and the freak snowstorm that knocked out power for more than three million homes this week, residents from Maryland to Maine have seen firsthand just how easily a major storm can shut down the power for hours, days, or more.

Basement Flood: When Mother Nature is Not to Blame

Posted by cynthia in Basement Flood, Basement Leaks, Basement Waterproofing, Drainage, Featured, Interior French Drain, Sump Pumps, Uncategorized, Wet Basement Repair | 0 comments

When we think basement flooding, the first thing that comes to mind are torrential downpours, summer storms with thunder and lightning,  knocking down trees and  power lines. Some of us, usually the ones with chronically damp basements, might even think snow melt.

Very few take into consideration that Mother Nature is absolutely not the only one that can cause a basement flood. Truth is that there is no such a thing as a flood safe basement.

Think about it. Your basement is box buried below grade. Any water that gets into it can only get out if pumped upwards.  You can’t rely on gravity to get rid of it.

Pipes run through the basement, and it usually houses water heater tanks and cold water tanks,  as well as washing machines. All of which have the potential to leak and malfunction, putting your basement underwater.

And let’s not forget running toilettes, overflowing sinks, backed up drains and all the small accidents that can happen upstairs and cause water to pour into the basement.

It is not a matter of if, but when your unprotected basement is going to flood.

6 Common Sump Pump Problems and What to Do About Them

Posted by cynthia in Basement Flood, Basement Leaks, Basement Waterproofing, Drainage, Featured, Sump Pumps, Uncategorized, Wet Basement Repair | 0 comments

A good sump pump, tied to a properly installed, working foundation drainage system is a homeowner’s first line of defense against basement flood.

Sump pump failure, on the other hand, is the cause of many basement floods.

Sump pumps are mechanical devices, therefore prone to malfunction, and they need a source of power to work.

They can also be improperly installed, which can interfere with the way they function and, since there are so many types, brands, models and capacities, it is hard for a homeowner without the proper knowledge, to  pick the right pump for the job.

Yard Drainage Solutions

Posted by cynthia in Basement Flood, Basement Leaks, Basement Waterproofing, Drainage, Uncategorized, Wet Basement Repair | 0 comments

Many basement leak problems can be prevented or, at least helped, with simple and inexpensive measures.

First, make sure that the soil around the foundation is properly graded. It should slope away from the walls.

If you have concrete sidewalks, a driveway make sure they too are diverting the water away and not towards the house.

Keep in mind that that soil, which was once dug out in order for the basement to be built, is not as compact as the undisturbed portion of the terrain surrounding the area, and tends to settle overtime and might need to be re-graded. It also soaks up more water than the surrounding soil, creating a false water table. In the industry, we call it the “clay bowl effect”, which is the main cause of most basement leaks.

Solutions for Leaky Basement Windows

Posted by cynthia in Basement Flood, Basement Leaks, Basement Wall Cracks, Basement Waterproofing, Featured, Uncategorized, Wet Basement Repair | 0 comments

Basement windows are meant to bring some much needed natural daylight into the basement.. They make that area, which otherwise would look like a dark dungeon, a bit brighter and safer.

However, if your basement windows are old and rusty, if the well is rusty and full of debris, and there is water coming into the basement because of them, your basement windows become a source of problems rather than daylight. They might be inviting in pests and, having an impact on your home’s energy efficiency as well.

It almost defeats the purpose of having a basement window in the first place.

If you have a leaky basement window, here are three possible solutions for the problem:

Ugly Stains In Basement Walls: What Are They?

Posted by cynthia in Basement Leaks, Basement Mold, Basement Wall Cracks, Basement Wall Systems, Basement Waterproofing, Featured, Uncategorized, Wet Basement Repair | 0 comments

Unfinished basements aren’t exactly eye candy, and for those of us who use it mainly for laundry and storage, looks aren’t really important.

That is, except when ugly, suspicious stains begin to appear on the walls. When ugly stains of any color set on the walls, or when undetermined substance starts to deposit on, peel, flake, fall  or ooze off the wall, homeowners usually wonder if they can be a sign of other major problems.

Most of them are worried about mold, and the implications it has on their home, indoor air quality and health.