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