Egress windows are a type of window that provides an emergency exit from a basement living space.  These windows provide another escape from the basement during an emergency situation other than the stairway to the upstairs.

Where are Egress Windows Required?
Most building codes require homeowners to install an egress window only if the basement or part of it will be used as a bedroom, while others will demand an egress window if you plan to use your basement as additional living space.  No matter what kind of room you are plan build, it is always better to be safe and have an alternate escape should a fire erupt on the first floor.

Benefits
Egress windows not only provide safety to you and your family when spending time in your basement, but also provide natural light. This natural light can make your basement feel less like a cave and more like any other living space in the house.

Our dealer network installs egress windows throughout the US, from Burbank ,  California, Omaha, Nebraska to Connecticut.

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.

There are however, a few steps you can take to prevent major disasters.

1- Sump pump system with drain.

Our sump pumps systems are installed within an airtight container with a drain on the lid. Any water that gets into your basement, regardless of the source will run to the sump drain and the sump pump will get it out of the basement.

2 -Water Alarms

The sooner you know about a water problem, the quicker you can respond to it and prevent disaster. Water alarms are included in our sump pump systems, but in bigger basements or basement with many rooms, we can install additional WaterWatch Floor Alarms to warn you of possible floods.

3- FloodRing for Water Heater Tanks

These tanks are automatically programmed to refill themselves when the water level gets too low, so as they leak, water will continuously poor into the basement, until someone manually shuts down the valve that feeds the tank. The FloodRing, by Basement Systems, will contain the water and divert it to the sump pump, before it floods the basement.

4- FloodCheck Hoses for washing machines

Unless you are turning off the valves every time you finish your laundry, your washing machine hose is pretty much a ticking time bomb. When the machine is not being used, the hose is being continuously subjected to a water pressure of 50psi. Regular hoses are not made to withstand this pressure for too long. So one day, all of a sudden, they burst. And when they do, you can count of 500 galons of water pouring into your basement, per hour.

We actually once serviced a family who came back from a weekend getaway to a basement with water up to the windows! FloodCheck Hoses, are industrial-grade, triple-ply with machined brass end connections. A 20-year warranty ensures your peace of mind for years to come.

After 20 years in the basement waterproofing business we’ve seen pretty much every type of basement flood and all the worst case scenarios you can think of. We are continuously using that experience to develop and provide products that will effectively address and prevent basement flood.

Our goal is to keep basements dry, no matter where the water comes from, and that is what we’ve been doing successfully for the past two decades

Experience the Basement Systems difference. Give us a call and let us amaze you with outstanding service and the best products in the world!

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.

Below are the most common types of sump pump failure, and what you need to do to prevent them.

1 – Overwhelmed Sump Pump

Sometimes a single sump pump just isn’t enough to handle the job. Sometimes the pump is simply not powerful or reliable enough.
Plastic, cheap sump pumps for example, often can’t keep up with the high volume of water that pours in, especially during heavy rains. It will burn out or fail to pump water as quickly as needed.<

At Basement Systems we only recommend and install high capacity, cast iron, Zoeller brand pumps as the primary pumps for all our systems. We’ve tested many other pumps and they were proven to be the most reliable and powerful in the industry.

Upgrading your sump pump and adding a battery backup sump pump to the system, usually solves this problem. In some rare cases you might need more than one sump pump and back up system, installed in different corners of the basement.

2- Pump works but there is no water coming into the sump pit..

This is a classic sign of improperly installed sump pump. Many contractors install a sump pump in the basement but do not link it to a drainage system.

A sump pump only works properly if there is a drain tile installed externally or internally, along the internal perimeter of the basement. The drain tile collects all the ground water from around the foundation, and relies on gravity to channel and discharge it into the sump pump. If the drain tile is clogged, collapsed, inexistent, or just not installed with the proper pitch, it won’t divert the water to the pit, and the best sump pump in the world will not keep your basement dry.

3- Clogged Sump Pumps and Switches

Sump pits that do not have a lid can easily fill with dirt and debris which can cause a sump pump to clog. Likewise, if you have a sump pump that sits straight against the bottom of a dirty sump pit its mechanical parts are liable to clog with dirt and debris. If this interferes with the pump’s operation, the system will slow or stop.

These same debris can cause the “float switch”, which causes the pump to turn on and off as the water level in the pit changes, to clog or jam as well.

If these switches clog, become jammed, or (in the case of cheap sump pump models) become tangled in the rest of the system, the sump pump switch will either stop working entirely or be stuck in the “on” position, meaning that it will run nonstop.

Our sump pump systems include a sump container with an air tight sealed lid that will not only prevent debris from falling in it; it will also keep small children and pets safe and the water from the pit from evaporating back into your basement. The system also includes a pedestal that keeps the sump from coming in contact with the bottom of the container, which is where the silt accumulates.

4 – Frozen or Clogged Discharge Lines

If the discharge lines are frozen or clogged, the system can’t get rid of the water being pumped.

The discharge line needs to be kept clear and it is a good idea to protect the end of the discharge line with a cover, like the Basement Systems’ LawnScape Outlet. This product keeps debris and small animals from getting into the discharge line.

To deal with frozen discharge lines we offer an attachment called IceGuard.  Installed at the beginning of the line, as it exits the basement, it will keep the water flowing out of the pipe if the line is frozen.

5 – Power Lost to the Sump Pump

TripleSafe has not one, but two backup pumps, and one of them is battery operated

When the pump stops working it is a good idea to check if it has power. In these cases, the sump might be working properly, but has no electricity to power it on. Often, the sump is unplugged – accidentally or someone forgot to plug it back in. Check the circuit breaker, it might have tripped and need to be reset.

There are of course, the cases in which the pump is down because of a power outage. The storms and torrential downpours that have the potential to flood a basement are often the same ones that knock down the power lines.

At Basement Systems we highly recommend that you have a high capacity battery operated backup sump pump to keep your basement protected when power is lost for any of the above reason.

Our sump pump systems, often include an alarm to let you know when a backup pump kicks in. For the ultimate protection, consider installing a TripleSafe System, which has not one, but two backup sump pumps, one of which is battery operated. The TripleSafe reduced the odds of a basement flood to statistical insignificance.

6 – Sump Pump Running Non-Stop.

Sump pumps that run continuously, non-stop, or way too often, regardless of the weather conditions or season, may be a sign of different problems, all of which need to be addressed immediately, before the overworked pump burns out. Here’s the most common causes:

• Stuck sump pump switches.
  The float switch becomes clogged, jammed, or (in cheap sump models) the switch becomes tangled in the system. In some cases, the vibrations of the sump pump as it runs can cause it to begin to lean on the edge of the sump pit or liner, disabling the sump pump switch.
• The Sump Pump Liner and/or the Liner is Too small or Too Big.
  In some cases the sump pump is just not big enough to handle the job, so it runs continuously to keep up. In other instances, the pump may be powerful enough, but the sump pit is so small, and fills up so quickly that it triggers the sump pump to work more often than it should. In the industry we call it a short cycling sump pump.
• The check valve is missing or broken.
  Because the sump pump is installed below grade, the discharge line go upwards until it can exit the basement at some point above grade, when the pipe is then pitched downhill, relying on gravity to discharge the water. The check valve, installed in the discharge line, prevents the water from coming back into the pit before it reaches the point in which it begins to roll downhill. A broken or missing check valve will cause 1/3 to 2/3 of that water to flow right back into the pit, overworking the pump.
• Continually flooding sump pit.
  In very rare cases, there is just a continuous flow of water into the sump pit due to a high water table or an underground spring. If the water table is too high, raising the sump pit a bit might help. Upgrading the system or adding an extra sump pump on another corner of the basement might help.

If the sump pump is running non-stop under normal conditions, there is a chance that it will fail when you need it most: during a heavy rain. Get a technician to look at it before bad weather strikes, because that is when the technicians will most likely be extremely busy, and you might not be able to schedule service until it is too late.

If your sump pump is not running properly or needs and upgrade, contact us for a free Sump Pump evaluation.

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.

This is why it is very important to keep that area as dry as possible, by providing adequate foundation drainage and properly managing the rain water.

Flowerbeds should not cause the water to pool close to the wall, and plants that need regular watering should be avoided, sprinklers should never be too close, and

Downspout extensions keep gutters from discharging water too close to the foundation walls.

If you have a basement, not having any gutters is a very bad idea. They need to be installed, and kept clean, free of debris and in good working condition.

Likewise, having gutters to capture all the water and snow melt falling from the roof, only to have them pour all that water next to your basement walls is not exactly a good idea if you want a dry basement.

Although we specialize in foundation drainage, we also provide yard drainage solutions, such as downspout extensions and discharge outlets as part of our set of comprehensive solutions to keep your basement dry all the time!

Contact us for a free in-home estimate and ask our home representative for information in all the yard drainage options we offer.

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:

1- Examine the windows.

When there is water seeping through the corners or the window itself, the problem might reside on the windows themselves. Wood and steel basement windows tend to decay or rot overtime, causing the water intrusion. If your basement windows are outdated consider replacing them by double-paned vinyl basement windows. Vinyl is impervious to water and its seal doesn’t decay easily when in contact with the elements. Properly installed, these windows will also stop air leaks, which will make your basement more energy efficient.

SunHouse Window Well

2- Inspect Window Wells

Old fashioned window wells can be a source of more problems than solutions. Originally meant to allow daylight to enter the basement, they are usually left uncovered, at the mercy of the elements. They quickly fill with dirt, debris, leaves, weeds, and of course, snow and water accumulates on them, and eventually find their way into the basement.

Consider replacing them for covered, fiberglass window enclosures like Basement System’s SunHouse Basement Window Wells.  SunHouse window wells will not decay in contact with wet dirt and the elements, and the clear cover will keep debris, leaves, water and snow from accumulating in the enclosure, while allowing the light to get through. They also have a  bright reflective surface that bounces the sunlight into the basement, making it even brighter. And since the cover will keep the cold winter winds from blasting straight against the windows, the basement will be more energy efficient and well.

3- Yard drainage

Even with all the above measures, we need to understand that basements are not submarines, there is no way to completely seal the water out. But you can, and should, take every necessary step to relief the pressure that pushes the water against the walls and make them leak in the first place. And that can only be accomplished with a combination of good foundation and good yard drainage.

Make sure the terrain is properly graded and slopes away from the foundation. Keep your gutters clean and in good working condition or, by all means, install them if you have none. Keep the downspouts from pouring water close to the foundation walls, by extending them as far as possible from the house.

Make sure your foundation drainage is in good condition, or have Basement Systems install a WaterGuard internal perimeter drainage, with a good sump pump.

4- Leaky Window Repair

In some cases, the above measures, individually or combined may not solve the problem completely.  Additional measures need to be taken to stop water from leaking windows from flooding the basement. At Basement Systems, we use WellDuct Window Drain to direct this water into your perimeter drainage system.

When this is installed, a drain hole is drilled through the foundation wall just under the windowsill. If the wall is a block wall, the hole is lined with a section of pipe. A grate is then installed on the outside of the hole and surrounded with clean stone to prevent clogs from leaves and debris.

When water rises high enough to leak through the window, it instead goes through the grate, through the wall, into the channel, and inside your perimeter drainage system.

If you have leaky basement windows, trust your local Basement Systems Dealer to provide the best solutions. Contact us for a free basement window repair estimate!

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.

Although not every basement wall stain is mold, all of them, have the same source and happen for the same reason as mold: water intrusion. Ground water consistently infiltrates the porous concrete walls through capillary action, and causes wall stains and related problems.

Therefore the first step to correct any type of basement wall stain problem is to provide adequate foundation drainage, to minimize the water infiltration. Without taking every step to keep the soil surrounding the walls as dry as possible, the stains will just keep coming back.

It is important to recognize different types of basement wall stains and know how to deal with them before you attempt to cleanup. Using the wrong products or procedures to get rid of wall stains can lead to more problems and sometimes pose undesirable and unnecessary health risks.

Here are the most common types of basement wall stains:

Efflorescence:

Efflorescence, which is commonly confused with mold, is a white, powdery, sometimes glistening substance that appears on basement wall surfaces. It is a loose mineral salt carried in with the water that infiltrates the concrete, being deposited on the wall.

Although being somewhat unsightly it is harmless and poses no health concerns. It is, however a sign of humidity and, the humidity should be controlled as it might cause more problems to appear overtime, including mold.

Reddish or orange (rusty) stains:

Rusty stains on the wall are a sign of iron ochre infiltration. Iron ochre is common wherever there are high levels of iron in the soil. Just like efflorescence, iron ochre is carried into the basement with the water that seeps in.

While not detrimental to human health, it can lead to many problems in your drainage systems by building up in pipes and drains, causing it to clog and fail.

Iron ochre stains are very stubborn, and they’re almost impossible to clean. They will stain anything they touch, including carpeting, drywall, plastic, and other materials. There is no effective way to clean them from the walls, so your best approach is to cover them. We recommend using CleanSpace liner, BrightWall acrylic wall panels or ZenWall insulated wall panels are perfect, affordable options to cover ugly walls.

Dark Stains:

Dark black or grayish stains in the wall are a sign of mold. Mold thrives in the presence of high humidity, warmth and organic matter, in which it feeds. It is always warm enough in your home (even the cold basement) for mold to grow, and household dust carries enough organic matter to feed it.

The only think you can do to stop mold growth in your basement is to keep the relative humidity levels down, preferably at, or below 60%. That can be accomplished with a good basement dehumidifier, like Basement Systems’  Energy Star-Rated  SaniDry basement dehumidifier.

SaniDry will not only keep mold under control, but it has a powerful air filtration systems that removes harmful particles like mold spores and dust mite pellets from the air you breathe.

Mold removal is a bit trickier and, according to both the EPA and the CDC, if the area infested is larger than 10 sq feet (roughly 3 x 3ft) , you should not attempt to do it on your own, without professional help. Smaller infestations can be cleaned with a bleach solution following the guidelines and safety measures provided by these agencies, which include using the proper ratio of bleach in the solution and wearing protective gear, to avoid health problems.

Paint peeling from basement wall

Chipping and Flaking Materials:

Paint, waterproofing coats, sealants and hydraulic cement, usually applied to either seal the basement walls or spruce them up, can, and will eventually cave in, as ground water infiltrates the wall and the pressure builds underneath.

These coatings will bubble up, flake or peel off the walls, making for a very ugly, very messy basement, with chips of paint all over the floor.

Paint and sealants should never be applied to basement walls, because they all tend to fail overtime. And when they do, the cleanup is neither easy nor cheap and may involve messy or labor intensive procedures such as scraping, sanding and power washing.

The best way to deal with this problem is to remove as much of the coating as you can and cover the walls with CleanSpace, BrightWall or ZenWall.

Chipping coats should not be confused with spalling.

Spalling:

When spalling occurs, the surface of the concrete itself (and not just the paint or sealant, begins to crumble and flake. That is also due to water intrusion and the salts that it carries, which expand and cause the concrete to break.

As previously said, these are all symptoms of a more significant problem. It is very important to fix the common source before you do anything else.

If you have any of the above problems, call Basement Systems and let us show how to correct them once and for all, the right way!

Water on expanding soil caused this basement wall to bow.

Bill Loden, a seasoned home inspector from Madison, AL tells Consumer Reports: “If there are 10 things that can go wrong with a house, 15 of them have to do with water.”

Having dealt with water intrusion problems for the past 20 years we know that he is not exaggerating.

Water can be especially hard on foundations because, being entirely or partially buried in wet soil, they are the areas of the house that are in constant contact with water. Rain water, if not properly controlled and diverted, can inflict an enormous amount of damage in a home’s foundation, sometimes compromising its structural integrity.

Water affects foundation in three main ways:

Hydrostatic Pressure:

It can cause more than just basement leaks. When the soil around the foundation is over saturated with water, the resulting hydrostatic pressure can push the walls inward, causing them to crack and bow. This can happen all of a sudden, during a period of heavy rains, or overtime.

Expanding Soils:

In some areas of the country, the clay-rich soil will expand when saturated with water, applying an enormous pressure against the foundation walls, causing them to bow, crack or shift.

Erosion:

Rain water or underground springs can slowly wash away the soil that supports the foundation, causing foundation settlement. Early foundation settlement signs aren’t sometimes obvious and can be easily dismissed by the homeowner until they become serious enough to demand professional intervention. Signs include sinking, uneven or unleveled floors, doors and windows that do not close properly, drywall cracks, tilting chimneys.

Don’t Panic!

A puddle on the floor or a small crack on the basement wall is usually something homeowners feel like they can deal with, and many actually put up with for many years, before they consider calling a pro.

On the other hand, a sinking foundation, or a bowing, cracking basement wall can rob many of their sleep. Understandably so: the very structure that keeps the whole house standing, is seriously compromised, and that is nothing to be taken lightly.

Fortunately, in many cases, the structural damage is not as bad as it looks, and thanks to modern foundation repair technologies, most problems can be solved.

Basement Systems, through our sister company Foundation Supportworks, offers the most advanced and reliable foundation repair solutions, for all types of foundation problems. With products ranging from foundation piers, to wall anchors, and crawl space jacks, there is hardly any type of structural damage that can’t be solved.

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.

We had an unprecedented amount of snow accumulation causing roofs, buildings and fixtures to cave in.

The situation was so serious that on 03/ 03/2011 the Federal Government declared Connecticut a Major Disaster area, making cities and towns around the state eligible for emergency disaster recovery funds.

Then came the rain, and the snow melt presented area residents with yet another set of concerns: floods and flash flood related problems.

At Connecticut Basement Systems, the phones rang off the hook as many area residents, especially in Fairfield, Stamford and Greenwich, had their basements under water. Our crews worked around the clock to help homeowners in the affected areas.

A basement flood is never something that can be taken lightly, but for homeowners with a finished basement, the cost of cleanup and restoration can be enormous and, to make matters worse, most of it might not be covered by their homeowners or even flood insurance.

If the basement is finished with drywall, and if the studs, insulation and drywall aren’t completely dry in 48 hours – and in a basement they hardly dry that quick –  there is a huge chance that mold will start to develop in the areas that came in contact with water.

EverLast Basement Drywall Restoration System

If your drywall is moldy and was partially damaged by flood we can help restore it with a new product.

We now offer a revolutionary drywall repair system, that can be installed after the waterproofing. The systems consists in a 100% waterproof, insulated 1/2″ rigid cementitious board cladding, lined with a white & beige-patterned vinyl surface that makes cleaning and maintenance a breeze.

This wall system is created with inorganic materials– materials that will not be damaged by water, and will not support the growth of mold or mildew. Additionally, the EverLast Finished Wall Panels used in this system are fully washable and are 197% stronger than drywall!

It installs at  a 32″ high  with a decorative, inorganic chair rail & baseboard that ties the system beautifully to the existing drywall finish.

By installing the EverLast Drywall Repair System, you not only repair wet drywall damage, you also protect yourself from this problem in the future.

Call us for a free flooded basement repair and ask out representative to show you the EverLast Drywall Repair System.

via finehomebuilding.com

This is only one of the reasons why crawl space vents are such a bad idea!

Posted via web from basementsystemsinc’s posterous