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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Here comes Hurricane Irene. If you have had basement flooding problems, or you are concerned you may get them with the projected rain in our forecast in the New England Area. Here are some ways to get ready, and prevent a flooded basement.

• Extend your downspouts away from your home in order to divert the water from your foundation. If you can, run them at least 3 to 5 feet away from your home.
• Clean your gutters of debris. The easier the water can flow down the roof to the gutters and then out the gutters, the better. Overflowing gutters is a prime way to allow water into your basement.
• If you are aware of foundation cracks, buy a foam spray at any hardware store and build a half circle barrier, 5 inches high, 3 feet on each side of the crack to retain the water, and give us a call.
• Be sure bulkheads are tightly closed and sealed.
• Board up windows, basement windows absolutely if you are in the area of a direct hit. If your basement windows are below grade, dig out the dirt from below your windows and replace with stone.
• If you have any dead trees or branches overhanging your home, try to remove those.
• With heavy rain, water doesn’t get absorbed into the ground. Therefore, water runs in rivers on the ground. Be sure that there is no debris on the ground that will divert water towards your home.
• You may want a sump pump ready to go and be sure it is working. If you have a wet dry vac, be sure that is available and ready to go.

Priority is that sump pumps are plugged in and that you are prepared for emergency water removal.

To be safe, if you have items of value in your basement, try to remove them to an upper level in your home or raise them up.

Most of all, prepare for the next hurricane.

If you have had water in your basement before, you will get water in your basement again. So it is important to learn from the mistakes and be ready for the next emergency.

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If your basement has a sump pump, really it is only a matter of time before a failure occurs. There are many different sizes of sump pumps and getting the right size for your home will go a long way to having your sump pump last.

The goal is to shop for the best value by obtaining a pump with maximum features for your money. The physical size of your pump may depend on the size of your sump pit.  An 18” diameter pit will allow enough clearance for most pumps.  Be sure to measure the width and depth of your sump pit before you make a purchase.  Consider the location of the float switch as well.  If your pump is not deep enough, the float switch will not work properly.

No matter what size sump pump you are considering, pay attention to the materials with which it is made.  The housing is the most important part and so the material is important, it will have a direct bearing on the life span of the pump.  Most often, pumps are made from plastic, cast iron, cast bronze or stainless steel.  Plastic pumps are lighter weight and more susceptible to damage and wear and tear than metal.  Cast iron, bronze and stainless steel will offer the best in longevity, but with an increase in cost.

There are various styles of float switches used for sump pumps.  Float pumps can become blocked by objects in tight quarters or by debris, so make sure you have enough clearance for the pump to move freely within the sump pit liner.

If you are just tired of wet basements and sump pumps, and worrying about if they are running or not, call A1 Foundation Crack Repair.

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If you find that there is mold growing in your home from a wet or damp basement, you need to act fast in order to remove it. However, if you have a mold problem that covers more than a 10-foot by 10-foot area, consider calling a professional.

When dealing with mold removal, be careful, once mold is disturbed it will release mold spores that can cause additional growth, or those spores can lead to health problems.

The first phase of work will be to completely remove drywall and carpet and all other “non permanent” affected items.  Also remove any furnishings that are carrying mold.  It is rare that these items can be saved once they have mold.

Once that is completed, it is time to clean the mold.  Use a cleaning product that is designed specifically for mold removal.  This will ensure that the spores have been killed, and the entire mold organism has been removed.  You must be very thorough, especially in wall and ceiling cavities. 

Remember that mold spores are often invisible.  So, even though the visible mold has been removed from surfaces, the spores could remain in the air for quite some time. It is very important to isolate the area where you have mold from the rest of the house because mold spores are designed to travel in the air until they can find a place to settle which is good for growth.  Mold spores need warmth, moisture, and a food source.  The food source can include wood, drywall, paper, fabrics and other typical household items. 

The next step is to eliminate the moisture and the food source.  The mold cleaning detergent needs to eliminate the food source from the washed surfaces but you also need to lower the humidity levels in the area.  The temperature in the space should be higher than normal because this will promote faster drying.  Be sure to close any windows or doors to the outside as well, so that humidity from the outdoors cannot come in.

The basement or other affected area should have good airflow for several days, so use fans; but most importantly, be sure to have a dehumidifier in this space.  It should be a reliable, powerful unit that will remove moisture from the air into either into a reservoir or a hose running to a drain or sump pump.  With a moisture meter you can regularly check surfaces and materials for moisture content.  Once you are able to get walls and floors to 12% moisture content or less, mold growth can no longer be sustained.

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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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When do most homeowners find out that their sump pump has failed? When it is too late! It is raining cats and dogs, rain water is contributing to the ground water and the water table is rising quickly. As the ground water level reaches the float activation set point. Regularly the sump pump will kick on and keep the water level below the basement slab, thereby alleviating the hydrostatic pressure below the basement floor.

Sadly, many homeowners find out the hard way that their sump pump is not working properly. The water table rises beyond a controllable level and hydrostatic pressure begins forcing water through floor cracks and floor/wall joints. The outcome is increased moisture levels inside the basement, which can lead to poor indoor air quality conditions, and in severe cases can lead to standing water filling up inside the basement causing havoc and misery.

The most important thing homeowners with basement waterproofing systems (sump pumps, basement drainage, etc.) can do is complete regular factory recommended maintenance. Regular maintenance should include removal of debris and obstructions from the sump liner and any cleaning of filters or screens that are attached to the sump pump. It is recommended that drains and sump pump systems are flushed with hot water regularly. This ensures that any debris or iron bacteria colonies do not build up and become obstructions to the flow of water. Do not run any type of hazardous cleaning chemicals (bleach, ammonia, detergents, etc.) through any drain or sump pump systems.

A-1 is a fully registered home improvement contractor. Contact us today to talk to a knowledgeable, master waterproofing professional should you have any leaking problems and we'll be happy to help.

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Sometimes its hard to know when you need to waterproof your basement. Yes its true, some people go down into their basement, see that it is fine and go about their merry business but what they don’t realize is that basement mold and water damage accumulates silently and then spreads like wildfire and it becomes a hassle to get rid of. So when you first move into your new home make sure you check the waterproofing of your basement. Then below are two popular times to waterproof your basement once again.

Before the rainy season

A wet basement is easy to ignore during dry weather. But when a major storm hits, the amount of water that comes in can be hard to predict. Homeowners that previously only had a small leak once or twice a year can be shocked and disappointed to find that their basement has several inches-even feet- of water seemingly out of the blue. How serious a basement flood can be is sometimes hard to tell, and unless the investment is made in a basement waterproofing system, the risk of such a flood is always present. If you know stormy weather is ahead, then it's a great idea to deal with the problem before it gets out of hand.

Before selling the home

If you're looking to sell your home, a wet basement can be a deal breaker. Home buyers are not looking to purchase someone else's problem, and if they find out that the basement floods, they will often back out of the deal. Home inspectors are trained to find the signs of wet basements, and they will make finding these signs a top priority.

In fact, 10% of the home's market value is lost with a wet basement. And because buyers will be reluctant to buy the home even at a discount, it will take much longer to sell it. In the end, fixing the basement properly with a sump pump and perimeter waterproofing system is a fast process and it restores a great deal of value to your home.

Even if you are not planning on selling your home or it hasn’t rained in a while, it might be a good idea to check out your basement anyway and if you see any signs of leaks or water damage contact the professionals and let us apply our A-1 method to your home for a clean and quality look.

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