| Do you have the flooded basement blues? Due to | | | | down to the basement! |
| their nature, being underground structures, | | | | Remember that faulty gutter system? Is |
| basements are prone to water damage. It doesn't | | | | rainwater draining properly or is it collecting in the |
| take a river overflowing its banks or a major | | | | soil that's pressing against your basement walls? |
| hurricane to flood a basement. In fact, basement | | | | Make sure that your home's gutters are draining |
| flooding often occurs due to water build up in the | | | | properly - away from the foundation and |
| surrounding soil. | | | | basement. Does the ground near your home |
| So what's a home owner to do? Prevention is | | | | slope away from it or toward it? Ideally, the |
| always the best medicine, especially when it | | | | ground should slope away. If not, consider grading |
| comes to your home. As little as an inch of water | | | | the soil. |
| can cause thousands of dollars of damage. Even | | | | Sump pumps are increasingly being used as a |
| small leaks can become major disasters when | | | | preventative tool. In the past, sump pumps were |
| mold takes over. If your basement isn't flooded | | | | used after flooding occurred. Now, many |
| now, take the necessary precautions to prevent | | | | municipalities have restricted builders from routing |
| the most common basement flooding problems. | | | | rainwater from gutters to the sewer systems as |
| You'll save yourself a great deal of heartache (and | | | | they try to comply with the Clean Water Act. If |
| money) later. | | | | the water isn't carried away from your foundation |
| First, if you have block walls, use a waterproof | | | | and basement, flooding can occur. |
| coating using the manufacturer's spread rate | | | | The sump pump acts to remove water from the |
| specifications. Don't skimp! You may even need a | | | | lowest sections of the basement, even below the |
| second coat if water seepage continues after the | | | | basement floor. A sump hole collects rising ground |
| first application. Use a waterproof coating that is | | | | water. The sump pump kicks in when the water |
| specifically formulated to block water passing | | | | reaches a "critical" level and begins pumping the |
| through due to hydrostatic pressure. | | | | water out. The water is pumped through a pipe |
| What is hydrostatic pressure? This is pressure | | | | that diverts it away from your home's foundation |
| caused by water in the soil which could include the | | | | and basement. |
| water table, rain runoff flowing toward your home | | | | Many different types of sump pumps are on the |
| underground, or even your home's own gutter | | | | market. Most use a "float" which activates the |
| system. | | | | pump when the water reaches a certain level. |
| Other prevention steps include fixing leaks, | | | | Some are designed to work underwater while |
| ensuring proper drainage, and installing a sump | | | | others are not meant to get wet. Different |
| pump. Leaks in the basement don't always | | | | materials such as plastic and cast iron affect the |
| originate down below. For example, if you have a | | | | price and long term performance of the pumps. In |
| leaking toilet above, where do you think the | | | | addition, sump pumps can be powered by either |
| water is going to end up? Drip, drip, drip… | | | | water or electricity. |