When it comes to flood safety, there is hardly a home in the U.S. that sits in an absolutely flood-free zone. And if the home happens to have a basement, it is not even a matter of if, but when the basement is going to flood. Mother nature is not the only one that can get it under water.

A single inch of water in a basement, especially in a finished one, can cause thousands of dollars in damages.

How much? This little calculator, from Floodsmart.gov, will give you an idea of just how much a flooded basement can cost.

To make matters worse, many times homeowners are faced with a harsh reality: typical homeowners insurance doesn’t pay for flood damage. Unless they have flood insurance, the homeowners will have to cough up the money themselves. In zones that are at high risk for floods, flood insurance is mandatory.

However, keep in mind that, according to FEMA, about 25% of all claims paid by the NFIP were for policies in moderate-to-low risk communities, last year. Reason why every one who owns a home should invest in flood insurance.

Mother Nature is growing more unpredictable every year, and although, in most cases you can apply for Federal assistance, if victimized by a natural disaster, it is hardly the best course of action.  Floodsmart.gov explains why:

“Federal disaster assistance is usually a loan that must be paid back with interest. For a $50,000 loan at 4% interest, your monthly payment would be around $240 a month ($2,880 a year) for 30 years. Compare that to a $100,000 flood insurance premium, which is about $400 a year ($33 a month).”

Keep in mind that there is 30 days waiting period after purchase for a policy to take effect, so it’s important to buy insurance before the floodwaters start to rise.

Having your basement waterproofed and flood protected with a good drainage and sump pump system is also a great way to prevent basement flooding from ruining your finances. For a fraction of the cost you would pay to have your flooded basement cleaned up and restored, you can have a WaterGuard internal perimeter drainage system installed, complete with a TripleSafe Sump Pump System: the only system in the industry capable of reducing the odds of a basement flood to statistical insignificance.

Available only through your Basement Systems Dealership Network.

Contact us for a Dealer near you.

With windows and doors closed, radon concentration levels spike during winter months.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established  the month of January as National Radon Action Month. Thrasher Basement Systems of Omaha, Nebraska urges homeowners in the state to get their homes tested.

Radon can be found all over the U.S. but according to the agency, some areas have a higher potential for elevated indoor radon levels.

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States with an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year related to radon exposure. Radon exposure kills more people each year than drunk driving.

Also according to that agency, nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. It can get into any type of building – homes, offices, and schools – through cracks in walls and floor, joints, and openings.

Radon is sucked in because of the way air moves inside these structures and, without enough openings to let it out, radon concentration levels can spike quickly and reach unsafe levels, especially in winter months, when windows and doors remain closed.

That is why January is the best month to have your home tested: doors and windows are kept closed making it is easier to measure actual concentrations.

According to Dr. Maria Neira, from United Nation’s World Health Organization “Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low and medium dose exposures in people’s homes.”

When you breathe in air containing radon, radioactive particles can get trapped in your lungs. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy.

This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Every homeowner within the high risk areas should have their home tested. If the levels in the home are found to be higher than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), a radon mitigation system should be installed. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk, and in many cases homeowners may opt to reduce them.

Radon mitigation systems work and are not too costly, especially if you measure them against the health benefits.  Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels.
To locate a certified Radon Testing and Mitigation contractor in your area, you should search for your State Radon Contact ( via EPA website and contact them for referrals.
If you live in Nebraska, Western Iowa and Northwestern Missouri, one of out Top Dealers, Thrasher Basement System is an area’s certified Radon Mitigation and Testing company. They offer state-of-the-art radon testing, and developing fully customized radon mitigation systems.

According to the E.P.A.  radon incidence map, many counties in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri are within the high risk zone.

Nebraska, for example, has a very high incidence of radon in homes; over half of homes that test in the state have levels above the action level of 4.0 pCi/L.

Founded in 1975 by Greg Thrasher in Earling, Iowa, Thrasher Basement Systems, Inc. is today one of the largest waterproofing and foundation repair contractors in the region, now offering radon mitigation systems.

For more information on Radon Testing and Mitigation systems, visit Thrasher Basement Systems website.