A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

Too many people are dealing with wet basements. Now that the hurricane is over you can address your wet basement problems and be prepared (and relaxed) for the next time. You need to not only clean up the water, but you need to prevent basement floods from happening again. Because, as many people found out, sump pumps are great, but if there is no power, there isn't a whole lot you can do.

Keep in mind that you have about 48 hours to get your basement dry before mold starts to grow. Water extraction is the key. It is important to get dehumidification equipment into your basement. You need the air to be dried out and dehumidified. Often sheet rock or plaster has to be removed and you need to get air behind the walls in order to get it dry. 

After you have your basement dried out, you need to take steps to ensure that you don’t get water again. It is a fact, if you get water in your basement once, you will get it again.   The first step is to figure out where it came from in order to address the best way of eliminating it in the future.

If you got water in your basement from the hurricane, contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair so we can help prevent you from EVER taking in water again.

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Sometimes, no matter what, when you live in a flood zone,  your house will flood in heavy rain. I have a friend who lives on a street called Water Row Lane, and last year their neighborhood had to collectively rent the Boston Duck Boats for 2 weeks to transport them from their homes to their cars in a nearby parking lot.

Water, might be good for flowers, plants, and trees, but it’s not so good for houses.

Live in a flood zone?

If you live in an area that has a high flood risk, elevate the furnace, water heater, electric panel, washer and dryer in your home at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.

You should have check valves installed in your home to prevent flood water from backing up your drains.

Have a sump pump installed,  and if you have a sump pump, make sure it’s working and install a battery-operated backup, in case the power goes out.

Clean debris from your gutters and downspouts.

After a flood

Check outside for loose power lines, gas leaks, foundation cracks or other damage. Make sure your porch roofs and overhangs still have their supports. Check your home’s and your out building’s foundations for settling, cracking or undermining. If you see damage, get a building inspector or contractor to check the home before you go inside.

Turn off all electrical switches, even if the power is out.

While the electricity is off, hose down the house to remove any health hazards left by floodwater and mud.

If your furnace or water heater floods, have a technician check them before turning them on.

If your basement is flooded, pump the water out in stages.

Dry out appliances such as washers and dryers before using them. They might need several days to dry.
 
Mold

Mold can produce allergens, and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances that can make you sick, so you need to ensure your home is as mold-free as possible.

Water damage should be taken care of within 48 hours after the incident or mold growth (or worse, bacteria and viruses) will occur.

The best way to prevent mold is to remove wet contents from your home immediately.

Wet items should be cleaned with a pine-oil cleanser and bleach, completely dried, and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors.

Dry out damaged rooms by opening windows and using high-pressure fans. If your carpets are damaged, you should strongly consider installing new ones.

Keep the indoor humidity low, ideally from 30 percent to 50 percent. Make sure places of high humidity, such as bathrooms, are well-ventilated. Use a dehumidifier whenever necessary.

Even if you remove the mold, if the water problem (i.e. a leaky pipe or cracked foundation) is not fixed, the mold will come back.
 
Hiring a Contractor

Do the research. Ask friends and neighbors and read reviews. Make sure the contractor can do the type of work needed, foundation and basement crack repair . And check the contractor’s current references.

Check withe the Better Business Bureau, A1 Foundation Crack Repair has an A+ Rating.

Contractors can’t collect more than one-third of payment up-front unless the job requires materials that must be specially ordered. They also cannot demand any payment before the contract is signed.

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Preventing basement flooding is much easier than having to deal with a flooded basement. It’s generally easy to ensure that your home, basement and foundation are protected from flooding. Here are a few steps you should take to help protect your basement. There are a number of issues that can cause basement flooding including inclement weather, hot water tank leakage, freezer leakage, sewage pipe leakage, or washing machine leakage.

Basically, basements flood because they are underground or of old or low-grade construction. To flood-proof your basement, there are a couple of precautions you should consider. The most applicable way to prevent flooding is to ensure that your home is up to code. Have your home inspected by a licensed inspector or plumber, especially if you feel that there may be problems that have been overlooked.  If they do not find anything, or if you already know what causes leaking in your basement, there are number of solutions to consider:

• Standpipes - Can be inserted into a drain to divert the flow through the particular drain that may be having problems
• Sewer check valves - Regulate the flow of water from your house; especially useful if you have determined this will address the source of your basement flooding.
• Drain plugs - Less expensive but also less reliable, they pop open at a certain pressure point to let the water through and hold it in the rest of the time.
• Sealing walls and floor - Should be part of your local building codes
• Installing an overhead sewer

Storm Drainage - Surprisingly, an often overlooked problem area is the storm drainage system. Your drain spouts may be connected to your plumbing. Devise a test or wait for a storm to see if this is the root of your flooding issue.  A licensed plumber or inspector will be able to identify any potential problem areas even if flooding has never occurred in your home. If it has occurred, then you can then trace the flooding to its source. Knowing the source, you can devise a succinct plan for flooding prevention.

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