The rainy season is in full swing and many homeowners are battling to keep their basement dry. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, a wet basement plagues about 60% of all homes. This is not a situation to ignore as wet basements can be a breeding ground for mold. However, with very little effort homeowners can avoid a wet basement and maintain a healthy safe environment for their family.
Here's five simple steps to a dry basement:
1)Start Outside. Keeping gutters clean of debris should be considered routine maintenance. When gutters are blocked, often times rain will spill out and fall near your foundation and eventually seep through the concrete walls of your home. Do your downspouts extend at least ten feet from the home? Ten feet is the minimum distance recommended to discharge water from your roof and away from your house.
2)Weatherproof. Check the seals of doors and windows. When wind blows during a rain storm it can force water up against the house. This water will run down the siding, around the windows, and into the window wells. It is also important to make sure the window wells have proper drainage and covers if possible.
3) Dry the air. Even if you don't have any leaks, humidity in an enclosed space can create condensation. This type of moisture creates the perfect environment for mold and rot to occur. Controlling the humidity in your home is simple with a dehumidifier such as the SaniDry Basement and Crawl Space Air System.
4) Install the right sump pump. Failing sump pumps are the leading cause of basement flooding and water problems. Traditional sump pumps typically fail for one of three reasons. 1) Mechanical failure. 2) Overwhelmed pump capacity. 3) Power source interruption or failure.
With the TripleSafe Sump Pump offered by Thrasher Basement Systems you can count on a dry basement all the time.
5)Hire a professional. If you have already had water in your basement you should seek professional help. Thrasher Basement Systems has highly trained and certified waterproofing professionals who will examine your basement, determine what type of leak you have and recommend the best and most cost efficient way to fix it. Thrasher can even remove and replace damaged drywall with our waterproof Everlast Wall Restoration System. Thrasher offers free estimates. Simply call (800) 827-0702.