So, you’ve had drainage channels laid down along the perimeter of your basement or your crawl space. Once installed, they should all be ready to begin guiding any surrounding groundwater to a collection point where the sump pump awaits. But what is a sump pump for? There needs to be something to help make sure the water moves away from your home, and not just flow back up into your lower level. That’s where the sump pump comes in. If you’re wondering “what is a sump pump and how does it work?” Read on to learn about a key part of any basement or crawl space waterproofing system.
A sump pump is installed in what’s called a sump pit, where water collects to be then pushed out and away from your house via a discharge pipe. Whether it’s during a heavy rain or when a lot of snow begins to melt, water starts to collect in your sump pit as they run around your lower level’s drainage channels. Once the water reaches a certain level, typically this is when your sump pump will go from stand-by to activation. The water gets pumped into the discharge pipe and from there it is pushed to a distant location away from your foundation and home. The aim is to get the water far enough from your home that it doesn’t return to erode your foundation. Including surrounding soil, and put further work on your sump pump. There are several kinds of sump pumps out there, which activate based on different conditions.
If you’re looking to waterproofing your basement or crawl space against the rainy and snowy weather in your area, investing in a sump pump can provide added protection and benefits that will both help your lower level as well as your wallet…
Depending on where you live, you ultimately may or may not need a sump pump. Some areas have climates with more humidity and moisture than others. Depending on your area’s unique climate, it might or might not be necessary. But getting an expert opinion can help you make a more educated choice. Here are some conditions that might make a sump pump necessary…
For many homeowners, their home is one of the greatest investments of time and money. The condition of their home can have a direct impact on their quality of life. This also includes the condition of the lower level of your home, whether it’s a basement or crawl space. Keep your basement or crawl space dry and free of groundwater to help ensure the longevity of your foundation, your lower level, and the rest of your home. Since 1958, ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing has been providing long-lasting waterproofing solutions for basements and crawl spaces just like yours.
We have local offices all throughout the Eastern Seaboard. Whether you live near Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, or Winston-Salem, NC, there’s a team of ’58 experts ready to help.
Whether you need sump pump maintenance or your waterproofing system needs one of our high-power Workhorse sump pumps, you can always lean on ’58! We also offer our own Workhorse OT battery backup sump pump to keep your waterproofing working in the case of primary pump failure or a power outage. Give us a call today to schedule for a free inspection and to receive a detailed estimate! When we’re on the scene, you can say goodbye to groundwater troubles!
As a homeowner, dealing with a wet basement or a soggy yard after heavy rain can be a frustrating experience—especially when it leads to damaged belongings, mold growth , or a dead, muddy lawn. Fortunately, there’s a tried-and-true solution that can help keep your home and your landscaping dry: the French drain system.
If you’re wondering, “Why is it called a French drain?” the answer may surprise you. While the word “French” might evoke thoughts of eloquence, the truth is quite the opposite. Coined and popularized by Henry Flagg French in his book Farm Drainage (published in 1859), a French drain system features a sloped trench that is filled with gravel or rock and a perforated pipe. This system diverts surface water and groundwater away from a specific area—such as your foundation or an area with heavy landscaping. The water then runs to designated areas like drainage ditches or a low-lying area of your property.
If you’re new to the concept of French drain systems, this guide is here to help. Below, you’ll learn of the different circumstances when you might need one and how ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing can help.
Installing a French drain system can be beneficial if you’re constantly experiencing these problems after heavy rainfall:
Depending upon which of these problems you’re experiencing, there are two different types of French drain systems that can help. Let’s examine both the outdoor and indoor French drain systems.
The gutter system on your home collects rainfall from your roof and diverts that water away from your foundation. Similarly, an outdoor French drain system collects rainfall from the ground level to achieve the same goal. For example, if water pools in low spots throughout your yard, an outdoor French drain system would ensure this water drains and flows away to a designated area. Another example is if water is making its way through your foundation and into your basement. Rather than allowing groundwater to put hydrostatic pressure on your foundation and seep indoors, an outdoor French drain system can help reroute that water away from your foundation.
Outdoor French drain systems might work well to funnel water away from low-lying areas in your yard. But they aren’t a 100% effective or cost-efficient solution to fixing a leaky or moisture-prone basement. It requires a lot of effort to install an outdoor system to alleviate hydrostatic pressure around your foundation. You must remove a significant amount of the soil—as well as any decks, patios, driveways, or landscaping—that surrounds your foundation’s perimeter. This process typically requires heavy machinery and a great deal of labor, which can be extremely costly.
The drain lines of an outdoor system can also clog with silt over time. This reduces their ability to eliminate water pressure against your foundation. When an outdoor system needs to be repaired or unclogged, the whole system must be dug up and replaced. For this reason, outdoor French drain system warranties are typically much shorter than other basement waterproofing solutions.
To ensure a basement stays dry even after heavy rainfall, an interior French drain system should be installed. With an interior waterproofing system, drainage channels are installed along the perimeter of your basement, where your basement floor meets the walls. As rainwater seeps into the soil and the water table rises to meet the foundation, perforations along the length of these drainage channels capture the water. These drainage channels then guide any captured water to a sump pit where a sump pump is installed. As water reaches the sump pit, a float valve is triggered and turns on the sump pump. The sump pump then pushes the water through a discharge pipe where the water will be deposited safely away from your foundation. This type of indoor basement waterproofing solution actively works to push water out of your basement 24/7.
Since 1958, hundreds of thousands of homeowners have depended on ’58 to waterproof their basements. Compared to outdoor French drain systems, our interior basement waterproofing systems are more cost-efficient and effective in the long run. With products like our own specially-engineered Channel ’58 drainage channels and high-power Workhorse sump pump, you can move more water faster out of your house! What’s more, they do not require extensive digging around the exterior of your foundation.
For even more moisture prevention for homes with crawl spaces, our company also offers industry-leading crawl space encapsulation services. During the encapsulation process, our experienced team will seal all crawl space vents, as well as seal the ground, walls, and support columns with a 20-mil thick vapor barrier.
With over 64 years in the waterproofing business, ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing knows how to protect your home from moisture problems and groundwater intrusion. Call us today to schedule for a free inspection and to receive a detailed estimate!
Your crawl space is meant to act as a buffer zone against moisture from the soil beneath your house, protecting your living spaces. But does that mean it’s normal to have a constantly moist crawl space? Not quite. Having a crawl space that’s perpetually moist can lead to problems in your crawl space. This is especially the case if there’s standing water. Standing water in your crawl space can become a source of persistent moisture, negatively affecting your crawl space and even your home’s living spaces given enough time.
Let’s take a dive into why having standing water in your crawl space can be so harmful to your crawlspace, and how to solve this problem…
If you’re noticing continual moisture or puddles of standing water, there may be one or more reasons behind this alarming development.
The standing water itself is unlikely to be what does damage to your crawl space. Rather it is the moisture that comes from that standing water. As moisture lingers in your crawlspace, it can begin to interact with the different parts of your crawlspace, eventually leading to problems.
As moisture spreads through the wooden structures of your crawl space, that moisture can begin to cause damage in a variety of ways.
While it’s normal for moisture to come and go in your crawl space, it’s better to keep your crawl space as dry as possible. To help ensure that your crawl space remains dry and useable, you’ll need a crawl space waterproofing solution that can keep the water out.
The best way to keep moisture-related problems away is to keep your crawl space dry. Every source of standing water adds to the existing moisture, compounding the problems that you may have to deal with.
First, you’ll need to identify where all the water leaks are occurring, so that you can take the proper measures to counter them. Calling in a crawl space waterproofing expert can be very helpful—they know exactly how to fix a water problem in the crawl space. Here are just some of the things a crawl space waterproofing expert may use to help protect your home against water:
Since 1958, our crawl space waterproofing experts have been helping homes like your own stay dry for decades. From our crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing repair services, we can help return your crawl space back to being safe, dry, and usable! You deserve to be able to use your crawl space, give us a call today for a free crawl space waterproofing inspection and a detailed estimate. ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing can make that dry home a reality!
In most areas, the climate can get quite humid during the summer months. The relative humidity can average 80% during some months.
As the humidity rises, you’ve probably felt the air get muggy. While that’s to be expected, especially during the summer, it can be a different story if you’re noticing a change in the quality of your indoor air.
Does your home, especially your first floor, feel damp or humid? Does the air smell earthy or musty? Have you noticed an increase in allergy symptoms? If your home has a crawl space—this may be the source of your musty home problems!
Whether it’s that humid summer air flowing into your crawl space, or groundwater seeping out of the soil during a heavy rainstorm, the presence of moisture and water in your crawl space can cause a variety of problem scenarios to happen. That musty smell in your home is just a byproduct—but of what?
Mold loves moisture. This is why you’re likely to find mold growing on soggy, rotten logs and dead plant matter. It’s a key part of the natural cycle that returns rotting matter back to the soil.
Unfortunately, there are mold spores virtually everywhere we go. That also includes your crawlspace.
When moisture builds up and lingers around your crawl space, it can start to soak into the wooden structures of the crawl space. That same moisture can also cause mold spores on any wood to become active. With moisture to keep it alive and damp wood for a food source, the mold can begin to grow and colonize. In the process, the mold will start releasing new spores as part of its reproduction cycle.
Not only do these new spores help create new mold colonies in your crawl space, but those mold spores may also make their way to your living spaces above. As mold grows more in the crawl space, and mold spores begin to saturate the air in your home, that musty smell will also start to become noticeable.
But what’s making those mold spores reach your living spaces?
As warmer air rises in your home, it creates a difference in pressure that causes the house to suck in air from the outside into the lower parts of your home. As the air moves upwards in the house, the air in your crawl space is going to be pulled into your home’s living spaces. That also means anything in your crawl space air is being sucked up with it, including mold spores and that musty odor you’ve been smelling.
Up to 50% of the air you breath in your home comes from your under your home, according to the EPA.
While there is no way to prevent mold spores from entering your home, there is fortunately a way to keep most mold spores from growing and spreading! As mentioned earlier, mold loves moisture. But without that moisture, the mold spores either won’t be able to start growing or will remain dormant.
Removing the mold is always a smart idea even if you plan to remove the moisture. This is because some molds can survive at lower moisture levels. Even with the methods to remove the moisture noted below, removing any present mold is prudent.
Now that we know that your crawlspace can be a source of that moisture, the question is: How do we keep the moisture out?
That’s where crawl space encapsulation enters the scene. Essentially, encapsulation involves sealing your crawlspace away from outside air and intrusive moisture. A thick vapor barrier liner is used to encapsulate the crawl space, from the floors and walls to even the support columns. That way your crawl space is kept separated from that outside moisture and it can even be made into usable space.
Here are some of the products that might be used in crawl space encapsulation.
If your crawl space tends to flood or form puddles during a heavy rainstorm, it’s likely that your crawl space will also require crawl space waterproofing. This will involve the installation of drainage channels, a sump pump, and possibly other measures depending on your situation.
Your crawl space is just as much a part of your home as any other part. What’s more, the condition of your crawl space can have an impact on the comfort of your home. So, it makes sense that you’d want to have your crawl space encapsulated and/or waterproofed by a reliable expert.
While there are a lot of crawl space contractors out there, not all are made equal. You’ll want to do your research and make sure that the contractor of your choice has at least the following…
By checking off these requirements, you’ll improve your chances of finding an excellent crawl space company that can protect your home against moisture and help you breathe easy again without that musty mold! For one long-historied expert that has these four qualities, consider calling ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing for a free estimate for crawl space encapsulation and crawl space waterproofing solutions!
If you live near any of our offices (greater Knoxville, Chattanooga, or the Tri Cities; greater Atlanta; the Winston-Salem – Greensboro area; the Spartanburg – Greenville area; greater Richmond; Washington DC; greater Baltimore; Wilmington DE; Philadelphia and central PA) call us today for mold removal or crawl space encapsulation services!
Food, water, and shelter, these are all vital things for us and for many other living things on this planet. That also includes the smaller creatures that live around us. But as humans spread across the globe and began building more and more homes and communities, it’s easy for nature to clash with humanity. Whether it’s insects, rodents, or any other kind of small animal—if pests can find an easy place to nest, grow, and breed, they’ll take advantage of it. That’s where your home comes into play: an already-made place of safety, food sources, and of course, water and moisture.
When we think of pests, we often think of the common offenders such as ants, termites, dust mites, and rats. But depending on your area of the United States, the list of pests in your area could be quite expansive, and they all have their reasons for wanting to invade your home. Aside from being unwanted guests and making for an unsightly presence in the house, pests can do a variety of damages to both your health and to your home itself. The key to conquering a pest problem is to understand the pest, its behavior, and how to counteract their methods of invasion.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the most common pests you may encounter, what their presence can do to you and your home, and how to keep them out of your house…
From the family Formicidae, ants are a colony-based insect that exists on almost every part of our Earth. While an individual ant may be nothing much to consider, it is the organized performance of the colony as a whole that makes them a smart and formidable pest in the house. It’s why an ant colony can sometimes be referred to as a superorganism—they can carry out actions and react to threats in a seemingly unified manner, as if it were a single entity. A colony is typically managed by a single queen, though there are species that can have multiple queens to form a joint super colony, and other species have been known to willfully cohabitate with a separate colony. Here are some species of ants that live in the Eastern US, for example:
Ants in your area may either be indigenous or invasive, but they all follow roughly the same protocols when invading your home. After a queen has mated, it will attempt to find a place that’s safe to start its brood. This could be outside of your home, or it may find a crack or a crevice in which to enter your home, such as through a foundation crack leading to your basement. Once it has found a place with comfortable humidity levels, made of suitable material such as wood, where a colony can properly tunnel and branch out, it will begin producing eggs and nurturing its first generation of workers. These workers will tend to the queen and scout for food. This is where ants become a proper pest.
As soon as a scouting worker has found food or water, it will consume some for itself, store some in its social stomach, and return to the colony while leaving a pheromone trail. This trail alerts the colony that there’s food if they should follow that trail, and the queen will be informed of that food when the worker returns to share food with her. This will encourage more workers to set out, and the queen will likely be encouraged to produce more brood as it has found a place to grow her colony and survive. This is when the ants transition into becoming a real pest. Property damage is a real possibility, especially when colonies grow larger. Some species like Carpenter Ants are prone to seeking out wooden structures within a home to build their tunnels and grow their colony, causing damage to your home’s walls and supports.
Trying to physically root out their colony can also be hazardous as the workers and soldiers of the colony are willing to bite an intruder, no matter their size. Some species of ants are also capable of stinging or spraying formic acid. But fortunately, there are multiple ways in which to deal with them without risking your own safety.
When many think of ants or other insects, their first reaction may be to use the insecticide spray and go for the quick and easy kill. But as the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture mentions, “The mistake most people make when attempting to control ants is only spraying the ones they see. This approach usually fails because the ants seen foraging over exposed surfaces is only a small portion of the colony.”
Killing the ants that you see on the kitchen floor is only a temporary solution. On any given day, an ant queen can produce around 800 eggs, and those eggs can become full grown adult workers within 38 to 60 days depending on the species. Once a colony has reached a mature stage, it’s akin to facing a situation of 800 new ants per day that you’d have to kill just to stop the colony from growing larger.
That’s where ant bait comes in. Ant bait may contain varying formulations of insecticide that is mixed into a kind of food material that will attract the ants. The bait only works if it happens to be in the path of foraging workers. But when a foraging worker discovers the bait, typically they will consume some of the bait and return to the colony to share it. From there, the insecticide is shared from the worker’s social stomach to other workers and even the queen. This creates the possibility of crippling an ant colony and even getting rid of it entirely. Here are some tips on how to effectively use ant bait:
Unlike an insecticide spray, the process of controlling ant populations in or around your home with ant bait is a slow process. As advised in a publication by the NC Cooperative Extension, “Patience is important to successful baiting. Most ant baits are slow-acting and do not kill the ants quickly. Therefore, you may continue to see ants for a week or more after baiting.” It is a part of the ant bait’s design because the bait is meant to be consumed and shared around the colony before the ants start dying off—this is to ensure maximum effect.
Microscopic in size, dust mites are incredibly hard to spot, and they can be found virtually anywhere where people live except the continent of Antarctica. When observed under a microscope, they look white and translucent, with an appearance that might be described as almost spider-like since they have eight legs. We typically know them to eat our dead skin cells, which is why they are so prevalent in the homes of people. But they also feed on dead skin cells of animals and even some forms of mold. There are over 20 species of dust mites that we are aware of.
It is likely that there are millions of dust mites present in your home. For a sense of scale, on average, you will shed as much as 1.5 grams of skin in a single day. That’s enough to feed one million dust mites, giving them a chance to breed and further propagate throughout your home.
Dust mites are innumerable, and they can live on average around 65-100 days. When a female dust mite has mated, it can lay as many as 100 eggs within five weeks. What’s more, during the course of a dust mite’s life, it will produce around 2,000 particles of fecal matter, which in turn can cause allergic reactions. As stated by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), “Both the body parts and the waste of dust mites are allergens for many people. Most dust mites die in low humidity levels or extreme temperatures. But they leave their dead bodies and waste behind. These can continue to cause allergic reactions. In a warm, humid house, dust mites can survive all year.”
Here is a list of allergy symptoms that dust mites can cause:
For those who have asthma, dust mites may also cause the following symptoms:
Dust mites can also cause eczema flare-ups and exasperate asthma symptoms that you may already be experiencing. The AAFA also believes that dust mites, due to their prevalence, may possibly be one of the most common triggers of both year-round allergies as well as asthma. This is why it is important to take measures to keep dust mite populations in check. It’s likely impossible to be completely free of dust mites, but the fewer the better.
As the Mayo Clinic advises, “Avoiding exposure to dust mites is the best strategy for controlling dust mite allergy. While you can’t completely eliminate dust mites from your home, you can significantly reduce their number.” By controlling the presence of dust mites in your home, you can reduce the frequency of allergic reactions that can be caused and help control your asthma if you have it.
Here are some ways that you can adjust your lifestyle to counter the presence of dust mites:
Across the North American continent there are over 70 species of native rodents living in the wild. But when “rodents” and “pests” come up in the same sentence, it’s often referring to three species of rodents in particular: the black rat, Norway rat, and the house mouse.
These creatures may look small and not threatening. But the EPA warns that as pests they can “infest houses, threaten public health, and destroy property. They can damage or destroy critical habitats, native plants and animals, crops, property, and food supplies.” That’s why it is crucial to know how they can be a pest and what to do about them.
Whether they are rats or mice, they both follow similar goals, which are to seek shelter, find near food sources, and breed. Human population centers and dwellings provide ample amounts of shelter from the elements and predators, meanwhile our pantries and food stores provide plenty of nutrition for the rodents to feed themselves and provide for their young. But it’s not just their presence that makes them a pest, it’s what they leave behind as they wander your home: feces, urine, and the potential to transport fleas, ticks, and mites into your home. They can also contaminate food or water that they’ve come into contact with, and their waste products can even contaminate the dust that you may breathe.
It is important to address rodent problems promptly to prevent the spread of disease in your home. Rodent feces, urine, blood, and saliva are all ways that diseases can be transmitted to human beings. There are around 35 diseases that rats, and mice can spread to humans. Here are just a few of the diseases that are known to be transmitted directly or indirectly by rodents to humans:
By taking proper measures, you can keep rodent pests out of your home and maintain a safe and healthy environment for you and your loved ones.
Rodents invade our homes because they’re looking for a means to survive. A human household is perfect for shelter, food, and a place to breed without natural predators. As the CDC advises, “The primary strategy for preventing human exposure to rodent diseases is effective rodent control in and around the home.” The measures required to make this strategy successful can be summarized in three steps: Seal, Trap, and Clean.
Termites are an insect that lives in colonies much like ants, bees, and wasps do. While they have earned the nickname of “white ants”, they are not related to ants at all and belong in the same order as cockroaches. With the support of workers and soldiers, a termite colony grows with a king and a queen at its head. Termites are generally small, with the queen being the biggest in a colony.
In nature, termites play an important role. They’re an organized species of decomposers. Termites are known as detritivores, which means they live off consuming dead plant matter, whether it’s dead wood, woodland plants, or even feces containing plant matter. Some species of termites are also known to cultivate “gardens” of particular fungi as food. Meanwhile, other species of termites prefer to eat grass, leaves, and plant roots instead. But what many of these termites all enjoy is darkness, warmth, and humidity, even if it’s the wooden support structures of your home. But that doesn’t mean they should be welcome guests. According to the EPA, “Every year termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage, and property owners spend over two billion dollars to treat them.”
In North America, there are at least 18 species of termites that count as pests. Termites also come in three varieties depending on their preference for dwelling: drywood, dampwood, and subterranean. But for many of them the wooden structures within people’s homes provides both bountiful amounts of food and shelter from predators and the elements. Once termites have moved into a home, they will begin tunneling through the wooden structures within your home. They tend to stay away from the surface of the wooden structures, creating their tunnels and galleries hidden from prying eyes. This can make detection difficult until much damage has already been done. But for every tunnel or gallery they create, they add to the further weakening of that wooden structure, which can lead to a compromising of your home’s structural integrity.
There are ways to detect possible infestations, however, especially when a termite mating season comes around. As the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture explains, “Spring typically is when large numbers of winged termites, known as ‘swarmers,’ emerge inside homes. In nature, termites swarm to disperse and start new colonies. Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall, the winged termites emerge from the colony and fly into the air.” If you happen to notice swarms of winged termites in or around your home, there’s a good chance that an infestation is already happening and requires professional assistance.
But there are other ways that you can detect a termite infestation without having to wait until Spring arrives. Here are some signs in your home that can indicate an infestation of termites:
If you notice termites flying out from woodpiles or tree stumps in your yard, be cautious and on the lookout. If swarmers are emerging near your home’s foundation, such as around your wooden porch, there might be an infestation.
For prevention, it is important to keep trees, wood piles, and other sources of wood away from the sides of your home. The more distance the better because it will reduce the chances of termites wandering into your home. Termites are not just drawn to wood—they also require a source of moisture. If there is lingering excess moisture in your home, the termites will see it as a favorable place to colonize.
Here are some measures you can take to control moisture in your home and prevent termites from wanting to invade:
But if you should have an infestation, there are termite baits which may be used to slowly kill off a termite colony, much like ant baits. There are also liquid termiticides which may be placed into the soil surrounding your home. These can either repel termites or outright kill them as they tunnel through the affected soil area. Consult with a pest control professional about these options.
From insects to rodents, pests are like all other living things—they’re seeking shelter, food, and water. When a home is having a moisture problem, pests see it as a place that satisfies their living requirements. But moisture control can keep the pests at bay. If the moisture isn’t present, pests will feel discouraged and will search elsewhere to live or forage.
There are many ways to get rid of pests. But efforts should be made to prevent the pests from invading your home in the first place. As Building Science explains, “Pests inside homes can lead to allergic reactions. Pests often lead to the use of pesticides that are not good for people to breathe or ingest (eat). Pests can damage or destroy building materials.”
Some of these may sound familiar from the pest descriptions above. But here are some ways that you can make your home more pest resistant:
All pests are living creatures trying to survive. But it’s important to discourage them from using your home as their means of survival. Moisture control is a crucial factor in defending your home from pests. Measures such as basement waterproofing or crawlspace encapsulation can help you manage the water or moisture in your lower level. A dry home also means enjoying your home while nature remains outdoors where it belongs. Moisture control and the other pest prevention methods mentioned in this article can save you from having to use more invasive pest control measures. Invasive pest control solutions can involve the use of harmful chemicals in your home. By understanding these pests and how they behave, you can deflect their attempts to make your home into their own.
Sources for Links:
Ant Control for Householders
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef619
Tips for Effective Ant Baiting
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tips-for-effective-ant-baiting
AAFA: Dust Mite Allergy
https://www.aafa.org/dust-mite-allergy/
Mayo Clinic: Dust Mite Allergy
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352178
CDC: Rodents
EPA: About Rats and Mice
https://www.epa.gov/rodenticides/about-rats-and-mice
Termite Control: Answers for Homeowners
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef604
Termites: How to Identify and Control Them
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/termites-how-identify-and-control-them
BSI-127: Pests Can Really Bug You
https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/building-science-insights/bsi-127-pests-can-really-bug-you
It happens to many homeowners. A crack in your basement wall may seem harmless at first. What’s wrong with a little humidity in the crawl space, right? But either of these scenarios can be a sign of more trouble ahead. Especially when there’s heavy rain, a lot of water can begin to soak into the soil around your home. When the collective weight of that water and soil presses against the walls of your foundation, that hydrostatic pressure can lead to cracks, eventually creating a pathway for groundwater to enter your basement or crawl space. If allowed to continue, that water leaking into your lower-level space can lead to further damage of your home’s structure and it can even draw pests and encourage mold growth. But with the proper measures, you can help your basement or crawl space remain dry, safe, and useable!
Let’s take a dive into some methods to protect your basement or crawl space from invading moisture!
While both have their own unique needs, whether you have a basement or a crawl space, there are some things that you should take into consideration for either one. Taking measures to keep water away from your foundation can help prevent moisture from infiltrating your basement or crawl space. Here are a few ways that you can do this whether you have a basement or a crawl space:
Along with the measures suggested above, there are other measures that you can take to protect your basement. A lot of damage to your foundation walls occurs because of there being too much water sitting against the foundation—the tremendous amounts of pressure can lead to basement wall cracks and bowing walls.
So, taking measures to divert that water away will help relieve the hydrostatic pressure and take the stress off your foundation walls. This is where waterproofing comes into play.
Basement waterproofing can involve a variety of measures, but they usually involve the installation of French drains, sump pumps, drainage pipes, and even a vapor barrier or a dehumidifier if the situation calls for it. Along with waterproofing measures, it’s also important to seal any gaps in your basement where pipes may run to the outside.
Should your basement wall or basement floor have cracks that are leaking, it is also important to have those cracks repaired so that water has no easy way into your basement. With the proper foundation repairs done in conjunction with your basement waterproofing, your basement will be kept protected against groundwater intrusion.
Crawl spaces are a little different from basements. Meant to act as a barrier between your home and the earth beneath it, usually crawl spaces just have a dirt floor where moisture can potentially seep up. From water seeping up through the soil when the water table rises to moisture creeping in through crawlspace vents, crawl spaces lacking the proper waterproofing or encapsulation can become humid or flooded and cause problems for you and your home.
For some crawl spaces, you may just need to seal your crawl space vents and install a durable vapor barrier. But for others that may be in areas that experience a lot of heavy rains, it may be necessary to waterproof your crawl space along with your crawl space encapsulation. Here are some of the measures that might be required to keep moisture out of your crawlspace…
You may also need to seal any gaps that exist around any piping that’s going out through the crawlspace wall. But with these measures in place, your crawlspace will be kept secure against moisture, which can benefit both your house structure and your air quality.
It may seem like a crack in your basement floor or a little humidity in the crawl space is okay to overlook, but these are both signs of moisture threatening to invade your home, or it’s already in the process. When moisture is allowed to enter your lower-level and wreak havoc, it can lead to further problems such as:
Preventing moisture from entering your lower level not only saves your home from damage, but it also benefits your health, wellbeing, and comfort. Allowing any of these problems to take place can lead to additional costs to repair and return your home to normal.
With the global climate changing, the way that rain comes and goes is also changing. As reported by USA Today in January 2022, in regions “East of the Rockies, more rain is falling, and it’s coming in more intense bursts.” Heavier rain seasons in certain parts of the United States are becoming more commonplace, and many of those regions are not properly prepared. The same USA Today article mentions that “a dozen states, including Iowa, Ohio and Rhode Island, saw five of their 10 wettest years in history over the past two decades”.
With many states experiencing unprecedented amounts of rain, it is more important than ever to be prepared for that water eventually finding its way to the soil around your home. By having your basement or crawl space properly waterproofed, you can help keep all that water moving out and away from your home, giving you a better chance at protecting your home’s lower level from groundwater intrusion.
Since 1958, ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing has been helping homeowners like you keep moisture out of their lower levels, so that their homes can remain safe, dry, and healthy places to be. With over 60 years of experience in developing the quality products and honest methods that we use today, you can rest assured that we’ll keep groundwater moving out and away from your home, keeping your lower level dry and helping preserve the value of your home against water-related damages to your foundation and lower-level space. Give us a call today to schedule for a free inspection of your foundation and lower-level space. We’ll be happy to provide you with a detailed cost estimate and answer any questions you may have!
People haven’t just made the planet hotter. We’ve changed the way it rains.
Whenever you think of humidity, you can feel the mugginess and stickiness in the air. Your home is sure to feel it as well, almost as if it’s getting soggy. Fortunately, we have air conditioners and dehumidifiers to help. However, your crawl space remains unprotected. If humidity is allowed to sit in your crawl space, it can lead to a disastrous situation in your home.
Let’s take a dive into what humidity has to do with your crawl space and how you can prevent damage to your home!
During a humid summer, the air all around you becomes more than just hot, it’s highly saturated with airborne moisture. That’s why it can feel so muggy and humid outside. But even if you’re in your living room cooling off with a fan spinning and the air conditioning on, your crawl space is a different story.
Crawl spaces are typically designed to be vented in order to stay dry. But when your climate is hot and humid, there’s no way for the crawl space to air itself out because the air going in is as moist as the air going out. The result? A humid crawl space becomes damp, and that’s when the problems start to arise.
Water can come in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas. Just as you wouldn’t want a water leak in your crawl
space, such as from leaky plumbing or groundwater through a foundation crack, you shouldn’t want very humid air to enter your crawl space either. Humid air getting into your crawl space can still contribute to the overall levels of moisture in your crawl space. When there is excess moisture in a crawl space, it can bring about a variety of problems to the crawl space.
As moisture builds and lingers in your crawl space, eventually the moisture levels will reach a point that mold spores present in your crawl space will begin to activate and grow. As that mold grows and colonizes, it can not only affect the concrete and wooden structures that they may grow on, but the mold spores they release can become a potential hazard for you and your loved ones. Mold spores are known to agitate respiratory illnesses and asthma symptoms, especially for those with allergies to mold.
Why would mold spores in the crawl space be a problem for you if you spend your time above? This is because of how the air in your crawl space has a direct effect on your home’s living spaces. Due to the differences in air pressure, the air within your crawl space is continually sucked upwards into your home’s living spaces. This is known as the “stack effect”. As the stack effect takes place, mold spores and the humid air within your crawl space is moved up and throughout the rest of your home. This will do more than trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms, however. Just as the mold in your crawl space required that humidity and moisture, the mold spores that spread throughout your home will be getting that same humid crawl space air to repeat the process.
You might be wondering how you could possibly get rid of all mold in your home. But as the EPA states it, “there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.”
Wood rot is the name for a group of fungal species that grow on wet or moist wood to begin the process of rot and decay. In nature, they play a key role in the cycle of life, returning dead trees back to the soil. But in your crawl space? It can mean rotting crawl space floor joists, which can lead to sagging or bouncy floors. It can also wreak havoc with any other wooden support structures that may be in your crawl space, which can eventually compromise the structural integrity of your home.
Water is vital to many things living on our planet. Many living creatures also require shelter, whether it’s to nest, be safe from the elements, or to evade predators. Unfortunately, that makes a humid crawl space perfect for many pests. Let’s take a look at some of the pests that may be drawn to your crawl space because of that excess moisture…
Mice and rats are always looking for a safe place to hide from predators while they forage and breed. Houses have long been a preferred breeding ground because of the lack of natural predators and the potential to find plenty of food resources. But they also require a source of water. A humid crawl space can fulfill a rodent pest’s needs, encouraging them to stay, forage, and breed. The danger comes from what the rodents may bring with them into your home. Their urine and feces may contain disease-causing germs and whatever food of yours they manage to get to will likely become contaminated. What’s more, they can also act as carriers of other pests such as fleas.
Ants are everywhere, and they can survive on any continent except Antarctica. Along with their need to create and grow a colony to survive, they also have to forage for food and find moisture to live. A humid crawl space can provide everything that ants need to begin a colony: moisture, a place to develop a colony, and even food as other insect pests are drawn to the crawl space. As the colony grows, they will continue to forage outwards until they begin intruding into your living spaces. For certain species, they may tunnel into your wooden structures as well, weakening the supports of your home.
Much like ants, termites form colonies to grow and survive. But as their reputation suggests, they live on dead plant matter and wood. For subterranean termites, moisture is key to their survival. So much so that they even build mud tunnels to retain moisture as they explore and forage. Should your crawl space suffer from prolonged humidity, it can provide everything a new termite colony needs to thrive. Termites can do serious damage to your home’s wooden structures as they create their tunnels within them. Eventually it can compromise the structural integrity of your home and require costly repairs.
Wherever there’s a human household, chances are there’s dust created by the dead skin cells that we shed—and where there’s dust, you can count on there being dust mites. These microscopic creatures are known to trigger allergic reactions because of the fecal particles that they produce. Their own bodies can also cause allergic reactions. Due to how small dust mites and their fecal particles are, it’s easy for them to get swept up from your crawl space and straight into your living spaces via the stack effect. When dust mites or their fecal particles get inhaled, it can trigger symptoms such as:
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), “dust mites may be the most common trigger of year-round allergies and asthma.” But since dust mites are very reliant on environmental moisture to survive, getting rid of that humidity in your crawl space can help prevent them from gaining an easy foothold in your home.
Whether you’ve been dusting your home to ward off dust mites, placing mouse traps, or repairing a crawl space floor joist that was damaged by wood rot, none of these solutions will be very effective without taking care of the source of these problems. The invasive humidity. So long as that hot and humid air keeps entering your crawl space, the moisture-related problems will simply return with enough time. Fortunately, there is a way to take control of this moisture and keep it outside of your home where it belongs.
To keep the humidity out of your crawl space and the rest of your home, your crawl space will need to be sealed and protected against outside moisture. That’s where crawl space encapsulation comes in. A properly encapsulated crawl space has several measures in place that keep external moisture out and maintain your home’s indoor environment. Here’s a list of the components that your crawl space encapsulation should include:
For extra protection against invasive moisture, it is recommended to consider crawl space waterproofing along with your crawl space encapsulation. With the addition of components such as drainage channels, a sump pump, and a discharge pipe, your crawl space can be better protected against groundwater intrusion. With encapsulation and waterproofing, you home can be protected both from the humid summer air as well as groundwater created by rainfall.
’58 Foundations & Waterproofing has been providing five-star crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing solutions for over 60 years. With our quality products and honest methods, our crawl space solutions will provide long-lasting and effective protection against invasive moisture. Thanks to our crawl space encapsulation expertise and our customer-first approach, we’ve proudly earned over 2,000 positive online reviews. What’s more, when you choose our experts to encapsulate your crawl space, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with our unbeatable life-of-the-structure warranty. As well as our money-back guarantee! Call us today to schedule for a free crawl space inspection and to receive a detailed price quote for your home! We look forward to serving you!
Sources for Links:
Dust Mite Allergy
https://www.aafa.org/dust-mite-allergy/
EPA: Ten Things You Should Know about Mold
https://www.epa.gov/mold/ten-things-you-should-know-about-mold
If your home features a sump pump in your basement or crawl space, it’s important to check on it regularly to ensure it’s working properly—especially prior to any local storm seasons. A sump pump failure in the middle of a storm can mean a wet basement, a flooded crawl space, and water damage to any stored belongings in your lower level. At ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing, we perform an extensive sump pump check-up that includes not only the mechanics of the pump itself, but of the discharge line, the joints in the line, the check valve, the electrical, and much more. If you’d like to have us perform a system maintenance check, you can always contact us whether you have our system or not. We service all sump pump makes and models.
Below, you’ll learn how to tell if your sump pump is working. This is so you can be assured that your system is operating smoothly when you need it most.
In the following disclaimer, this is so we can ensure the integrity of our systems. But if you have another system without a warranty or used a company without a service department, then we’ve simplified how you can check to see if your sump pump is working.
Disclaimer:
The act of taking apart and testing your sump pump can create problems for your system. We DO NOT recommend that you service your own sump pump system, and instead hire a professional.
WARRANTY NOTICE: If you have a ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing sump pump system, YOU WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY if you perform your own service or maintenance on the system.
To effectively test your sump pump, it’s important to first check your entire system for any clogs or blockages. Before getting started, be sure to have these basic tools and safety equipment handy:
Before testing your sump pump, inspect your pump’s drainage channels. Also check the outlet at the end of your pump’s discharge line. The discharge line is the pipe that carries water from your pump away from your foundation. Once located, be sure the drains and lines are not clogged from dirt, debris, sediment, or plant matter. If a clog or blockage is found, promptly remove it.
Just like your sump pump’s drainage channels, discharge line, and discharge outlet can become clogged, your sump pump and sump pit can also become dirty or clogged. After you locate your sump pump and sump pit in your basement or crawl space, be sure to unplug the pump from its electrical outlet before beginning your inspection.
With all power cut off, you can disconnect the pump from the discharge line and remove it from the pit. But be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses, as this can get messy. Also, be sure not to pull on any pipe connections/joints on the discharge line such as T’s or elbows that are glued together. This could cause current or future leaks at these joints. If your pump is raised with bricks or another type of base material, be sure to remove them, as well. Now that the pump and base materials are out of the pit, closely inspect them with a high-powered flashlight.
If the sump pump has dirt, sludge, or sediment build-up (especially near the screen or small opening where water enters the pump), safely transport it outdoors (e.g., inside a bucket or tarp to prevent tracking debris through your home) and clean it off using your garden hose or a scraping tool, if needed.
Note: Do not use any chemicals to clean your sump pump or sump pit. Water is the safest and most efficient way to clean them.
With your pump and pump base materials clean, you can now inspect your sump pit using your flashlight. If it has any standing water and you can’t see the bottom of the sump pit, be sure to use a wet/dry shop vacuum to remove it first. Then, take a close look at the basin of the pit, as well as the inlet of your pump’s discharge line. If there is any sludge build-up, scoop it out and place it in a trash bag or bucket for disposal.
Once your sump pump, sump pit, discharge line, and discharge outlet are clear and free from debris or clogs, you can begin the actual testing process. First, reinstall your sump pump by placing it back into the sump pit and reconnecting it to the discharge line. Make sure all connections and clamps are tight. Then, you can plug its electrical cord back into its outlet.
Using any nearby water supply, fill up a clean, empty bucket with enough water to fill the basin in your sump pit and trigger the float switch. Once the float switch is triggered and the pump kicks on, watch closely as water is pumped away to ensure it exits the basin efficiently. After the pumping cycle is complete, the sump pump should turn itself off. Repeat this process a second time to confirm the pump is activating and working properly.
We advise not lifting a float or manually activating a pump without water. These are not viable testing methods. The sump pump may kick on and have an audible sound, but it is possible that it would not actually pump water.
With water testing a pump you can also see the pump flow rate, this can be an indicator that the pump is at the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. A low flow rate due to a worn pump can result in the pump being overwhelmed in a rain event.
Taking apart and testing your sump pump can cause problems for your system. We recommend hire a professional to service your sump pump system.
If you’re having a difficult time testing your sump pump—or your sump pump keeps running or is not working properly during your tests—the professionals at ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing can help.
As one of the only companies to offer a maintenance program for sump pumps and basement waterproofing systems (even if you did not purchase your sump pump through us), we can help you keep your sump pump running efficiently all year long. Our team recommends annual testing and maintenance of your sump pump system to keep it in optimal working condition.
If you’re a ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing customer, we have an annual maintenance program to service your system. If you have another system, and it is no longer under warranty, we can help! We service all makes and models of all sump pumps.
If your current sump pump isn’t working properly or unable to expel water away from your home, you might need to replace it with a new one. Fortunately, ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing has tested numerous makes and models of sump pumps—meaning we only offer the most reliable, long-lasting, and durable pumps and pump liners available.
In addition, we can help you select the correct pump with the right amount of horsepower for your unique situation, as well as equip you with a backup sump pump system that keeps your home protected should your main system fail for any reason.
Keeping your basement or crawl space dry is crucial to the health and safety of your home. Excess moisture in your lower level can cause problems including mold, wood rot, and water damage. To prevent costly repairs, it’s important to ensure your sump pump system works when you need it most.
Reach out to ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing today to schedule a sump pump inspection or to learn more about the sump pumps and maintenance plans we offer.
Is it that you haven’t looked inside your home’s crawl space in a while? If so, it might be time to give it a thorough inspection. Especially if your floors are feeling cold even when your furnace is running! While your crawl space isn’t the most inviting place to visit, spotting damp, soggy fiberglass batts hanging from your floor joists (or no insulation at all) is a telltale sign that your crawl space needs to be addressed to ensure adequate insulation and minimal moisture.
This guide will walk you through the best steps to take when re-configuring your crawl space. Also, we will discuss the downfall of traditional crawl space insulation methods, along with the more modern and efficient crawl space encapsulation processes. Let's look at how you can apply them to your home.
For many homes with crawl spaces, it is common for builders to place fiberglass insulation in the subfloor above the crawl space while leaving wall vents open. The thought behind this is that any moisture build-up in the crawl space would be expelled out of the vents.
Unfortunately, this old-school design does not live up to its intended purpose. Homes draw in air from all sides at the lower levels. This air then travels upward into the home and out through the attic or roof. Outside air is sucked through vents and small gaps and into the crawl space. If this air has higher levels of humidity in it, and comes into contact with the cool surfaces in the crawl space, it creates condensation. Condensation can lead to insulation degradation, wood rot, mold growth, and energy inefficiency.
Rather than taking the traditional approach to crawl space insulation, the most effective way to ensure your crawl space stays condensation-free and insulated all year long is to enclose it entirely. This should be done regardless of the climate you live in. Not only does crawl space encapsulation reduce the chance of moisture build-up and promote better energy efficiency, it also provides a complete solution for crawl space mold and pest prevention. Moreover, it creates an overall cleaner crawl space in your home that you could use for additional storage.
Below, we’ve detailed four steps you can take to encapsulate your home’s crawl space.
One of the best ways to insulate a crawl space is to encapsulate it along with insulation. Encapsulation eliminates outside air and moisture from entering the crawl space as humidity.
If your crawl space has standing water, an interior drain system with a sump pump and an industrial-strength dehumidifier might be necessary to completely dry out the space before the encapsulation process can begin.
Once you have eliminated potential water sources and completely dried out your crawl space, the next step in the encapsulation process is to seal crawl space vents, airways, or access doors. Many manufactured crawl space vent covers help to create an airtight bond—but if you happen to create your own DIY vent covers, be sure to use non-organic materials and caulk them in place to keep moisture out.
Then, using a foam sealant, seal off any gaps, airways, or cracks—including between plumbing, drain line, or wiring routes—that remain in your crawl space. For access doors, be sure to install heavy-duty weatherstripping around their frames to keep air from flowing into your crawl space.
Rather than installing batts between your subfloor’s joists (paper-backed batt insulation in a crawl space with high humidity can become food for mold, especially if it is hanging), the encapsulation process utilizes rolled foam insulation across your crawl space’s walls. Unlike fiberglass batts, these types of insulation resist damage caused by moisture, and deliver more thermal resistance than many other insulating materials of the same thickness.
Be sure to select insulation with the appropriate R-value (the measurement used to determine thermal resistance) for your area and climate. Before applying your insulation, read through any manufacturer specifications or installation guides, as each type of insulation features its own installation process.
With your insulation in place, it’s time to add a vapor barrier over the floor and walls of your crawl space. This prevents moisture from entering up from the floor or through porous concrete walls as moisture vapor. Removing moisture makes your crawl space healthier and more energy efficient. This now dry, clean, and usable space, has the potential to become an additional storage area in your home.
Vapor barriers are available in a wide range of thicknesses. However, you need to be sure to choose one that will, at minimum, withstand rips and tears—especially if your HVAC, ducting, or other appliances are housed in your crawl space. UV protection is also extremely important so the plastic liner doesn't become brittle and fall apart. Many lower end, thinner vapor barriers do not have UV protection.
Encapsulating your crawl space on your own can be a time-consuming and challenging process, especially if you’re also dealing with moisture or mold problems. Fortunately, at ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing, we can help you solve your crawl space issues for good.
If you’re dealing with severe moisture issues or standing water in your crawl space, our basement waterproofing solution—which includes encapsulation, dehumidifier, and sump pump options—will work to keep your crawl space dry and free of mold. Additionally, our heavy-duty commercial crawl space dehumidifier will work to dry out any moisture collected in your joists, subflooring, posts, and other porous materials, stopping further rot and mold growth.
If you’re looking to install a permanent crawl space solution, call ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing today to schedule your free inspection.
For many crawl spaces, it is a frequent occurrence to have moisture seep up from the soil and collect into puddles. While our crawl space is supposed to be a buffer zone between moisture and your home’s living spaces, these occurrences of moisture seepage can lead to water damage to your house structure and create an environment that’s perfect for mold and pests.
Fortunately, crawl space encapsulation can help keep that moisture from affecting the rest of your crawl space and home. With the installation of a vapor barrier, moisture can’t reach the rest of your crawl space and affect the humidity of the air. But there are other measures which can also be put in place to further help keep that moisture out of your crawl space, such as sump pumps, dehumidifiers, and waterproofing measures. But how long does a crawl space encapsulation last? How long can you enjoy its protection?
With a properly encapsulated crawl space, you can expect your crawl space encapsulation to last as long or longer than 20 years, so long as nothing disastrous like a flood occurs. It’s important to see if your crawl space encapsulation will be backed by a warranty. Many crawl space encapsulations are covered for 15 to 20 years by warranty, but there are also ones with lifetime warranties or life of structure warranties.
When you have a case of a wet crawl space, it can take anywhere from eight to 10 hours to dry when using a dehumidifier. Once dry, if you’re interested in having your crawl space encapsulated, the process will usually take on average one to two days depending on the size of your crawl space.
Be sure to consult with a professional first to get a more accurate estimate of how long it will take to complete your crawl space’s encapsulation process. Due to the uniqueness of every home, no two crawl space encapsulation projects are the same, so there’s no sure answer until you have your crawl space inspected.
Whether you’re having a professional encapsulate your crawl space, or you’re trying to do it yourself, here are some helpful tips on how to ensure a successful encapsulation—one that will be effective and for a long time!
By following these steps, you’ll be able to help make sure that the crawl space encapsulation process goes smoothly and lasts for many years. If you’re getting help for your crawl space, a professional will also help inspect for any problems before beginning work, but it always helps to be prepared!
From our 20-mil thick liners to our Channel ’58 drainage channels, ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing has the crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing solutions to keep your crawl space free of moisture, making it a dry, healthy, and useable space once again! With over 60 years of experience in the industry and our quality products, you can depend on us to provide your crawl space with a personalized solution that works and lasts. Give us a call today to schedule for a free crawl space inspection and to receive a detailed estimate from one of our experts!
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