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