A wet basement might seem like a small problem, but it can lead to a much bigger one. A leaking basement, or a basement that generates a lot of moisture, can attract toxic black mold or cause structural damage to your home’s foundation.

A leaky basement also runs the risk of soaking any belongings you store there, increasing the risk of black mold. Basement waterproofing can stabilize your home’s property value and provide great peace of mind. Visit our basement waterproofing page for more information.

Water can seep into your basement through cracks in the walls or floor, but there are plenty of other places it can break through. Look for weak spots around your basement, such as mortar joints (spaces between bricks or concrete blocks) tie rods that reinforce masonry, the junctures where the walls meet the floor (known as a “cove joint”), the top of your home’s foundation, or window wells. Water can also come from leaky plumbing.

The best way to keep water our of your basement is to keep it away from your home’s foundation, and there are several ways to do this. Keep the ground around your house sloped away from it, and free from shrubbery or plants that might prevent sunlight from drying out the soil. Install gutters and downspouts, keeping them regularly clean of debris, and make sure they drain well away from the foundation (either by piping it underground or extending the gutters away from your home). Keep your home’s window wells covered so they don’t collect water.

Sump pumps are electrically powered, which means a large storm that knocks out your power will effectively be knocking out your sump pump if it’s not backed up.  A rainstorm that’s strong enough to cut your electrical power is definitely the kind of storm you’ll need a backup for. There are 2 main types of backup systems, battery and water powered / pressured, see next question.

Ultimately, the price will depend on the solution. Standard system installations like French drains and exterior gravity systems, are priced by the foot. Installations of backup pumps, dehumidifiers, and other features may also affect the total cost of your job.  We do offer no interest financing in many situations. (credit terms apply, must qualify)

It is the mineral deposits left behind when moisture dries and crystallizes. It is referred to as efflorescence. You should be able get rid of the staining with a mixture of vinegar and water.  That being said, we highly recommend you also have us evaluate the root cause of the issue, and correct it before any further damage is done. While the staining may go away, the moisture likely will not, and longer term damage can be done.

Leaking basements offer a few obvious indicators, like pools of water on the floor or water trickling down the walls. But there are several other ways water damage can show itself as well:

• A rapid increase in mold or mildew
• Musty odors
• Damp spots on the walls or floor
• A white, chalky substance on the walls
• Cracks in the walls or floor
• Peeling paint or bubbling wallpaper
• Rust on appliances or other metal objects
• Dry rot
• Warped paneling or wood

Commonly, wet basements occur in homes that lie in low-level areas at the bottoms of slopes or hills, but the everyday shifting or settling of your home may also cause leakage. Other potential causes may be poorly-mixed foundation concrete or improperly designed drainage systems. New swimming pools or home additions (whether in your yard or a neighbor’s) may also cause problems.

Whether you’ve got wet basement walls, an obvious leak, black mold or some other problem, we are qualified to assess it. We’ll give you a free, on-the-spot verbal recommendation regarding your problem, and how it can be addressed. We’ll follow up that verbal recommendation with a written proposal.

Your home’s sump pump is it’s 1st line of defense against water. Since your main sump pump is usually powered by electricity, when the power goes out, the pump stops removing water from your home.  That’s why it’s always best to install a sump pump back-up. And the best choice for a back-up is a water-powered system as long as you’re home is still receiving water municipal or well water during a power loss.

Even under the heaviest rainfall and worst storm conditions, a water-powered sump pump is a solid defense against flood damage in your home. Using water pressure produced by your home’s incoming water supply lines to pump out water in the sump pit, a water-powered sump pump requires no battery, no electrical power and relies on no moving parts.  These pumps are compatible with ¾-inch municipal water supply lines and can remove as much as 1,324 gallons of water per hour when operational.

The other popular option, is the battery backup which is powered by a heavy-duty marine battery.  We recommend a battery backup for anyone with a well or other circumstances that would cause loss of water pressure during a loss of power.

Absolutely.  All of our employees receive extensive initial training, as well as continuous field training throughout the year. Most of our installers have been doing this kind of work for a long time, and as a company we do nothing but solve problems related to basement moisture. 

Yes. Nearly all methods that we use in conjunction with full-depth basements can be used to address crawl space related problems. If we are to do any work from the interior, we generally need at least three feet of headroom.

If you have a dirt or gravel floor inside the crawl space, we could also install (pump) a concrete floor to reduce moisture and provide additional storage space. We can also install a Crawl Space Liner.