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!
Over 600 million years ago, long before humanity, some of the earliest species of terrestrial fungi were thought to grow on the earth, likely contributing to the oxygenation of our atmosphere. It is possible that fungi may have been a dominant form of life on our planet. Even after the massive extinction event that killed most of the dinosaurs, there was evidence that the large amounts of dead animals and vegetation led to an incredible fungal bloom—enough that, as published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS), it left its mark in the fossil record. Today, the descendants of those old forms of fungi continue to live in our world, and they are everywhere. For a number of them, we categorize them under a particular term: Mold.
Mold is not going anywhere. Across the many varieties of mold, they all come from a mighty lineage that has withstood the test of time and planet-wide disasters. They have evolved to spread and persist to the point that it’s almost impossible to keep an area completely free of their spores. But they play an incredibly important role in our world: decomposition. The cycle of life would be incomplete without the help of molds to return dead vegetation and creatures (including other decomposers) to the earth.
The relationship between humans and molds has a complex history. Though we have lived with mold for thousands of years, we are still trying to understand the way they interact with us and how we can better control mold’s presence, especially in our living spaces. Some molds have helped with medical advancements, and even for the creation of certain foods and alcohols. Meanwhile, other molds like to grow on grains, fruits, and other foods. Then there’s the molds that may make us sick from their spores.
So how can we best coexist with the many molds in our world?
Let’s take a dive into some of the common molds you may encounter and how to prevent mold growth from occurring in your home!
This genus of mold is made up of hundreds of species. These molds are often found growing on particular types of food including starchy foods, some fruits, and nuts. But it is also capable of growing on plants and trees. Other species of Aspergillus are capable of growing on building surfaces such as walls, window frames, and bathroom surfaces—these species favor warm and humid areas, especially if it’s a home with a moisture problem.
Some species of Aspergillus can unfortunately cause serious disease to people as well as animals. Also, some species can produce what’s known as aflatoxin. Aflatoxin does more than just potentially contaminate food—it is also both a carcinogen as well as a toxin. Meanwhile, other species can cause allergic reactions, create mycotoxins, and even cause neonatal infections. For the diseases caused by Aspergillus, they are grouped together as Aspergillosis.
Aspergillosis can manifest in several forms, with their major forms being:
While there are quite a few ways for Aspergillus to affect you, it is not always a concern so long as you are healthy and practice proper methods of mold prevention. As the CDC describes, “Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus.”
Also, it is important to note that the relationship between Aspergillus and humans is not always harmful. Throughout history, we have found ways to utilize various molds to our benefit with certain species of Aspergillus being a part of that list:
In Latin, Penicillium translates to “painter’s brush”, an apt description for how it looks under a microscope. When most people think of Penicillium, they usually think of the medical and culinary uses that we have discovered with several species. But not all species of Penicillium are beneficial. There are a number of them that thrive on fruits, grains, home-building materials, and even metal and glass—these all have one thing in common: they cause damage to the things they grow on.
Penicillium that you may encounter indoors can be easy to recognize. Oftentimes, you will find them on spoiled food. For example, on spoiled bread, you may find a penicillium that looks like a bluish colored fuzz growing on the surface. What makes these kinds of penicillium dangerous to humans is the potential to produce highly toxic mycotoxins. If you should find any food items contaminated with penicillium growth, it is always recommended that you throw it away.
As mentioned before, several species of Penicillium are famously used for beneficial things such as:
While there are a lot of different kinds of black mold, it is Stachybotrys chartarum that most people refer to as the “toxic mold”. This is a common kind of black mold that likes to grow on materials such as wood, paper, fiberboard, gypsum board, and even cotton. Both its spores and fungal fragments may contain toxic mycotoxins.
This mold requires constant moisture to properly grow and spread. If you have an area that has a constant moisture problem, watch out for black mold growing on any damp surfaces that have a high cellulose content.
Like other molds, Stachybotrys chartarum can cause various allergic reactions to those who are sensitive to mold. For those sensitive enough, black mold can cause symptoms including:
These are just three of the common molds that you may encounter in your home. Every day you’re breathing mold spores from all different kinds of molds, but normally they won’t cause any harm because your immune system takes care of any spores you may inhale. However, mycotoxins can be dangerous when ingested, and certain factors can cause someone to develop a mold allergy.
According to the CDC, “People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.” When these allergies develop or become agitated, it can make the presence of mold suddenly become bothersome at the least and dangerous at the worst. Those with weakened immune systems are also more susceptible to the detrimental effects of mold. The best solution is to simply limit the presence of mold in your home from the very start.
Let’s take a look next at the preventative measures that you can take to keep mold from growing and spreading inside your home…
One thing that all molds have in common is the need for moisture and the proper nutrients. Mold spores are everywhere around us. As the EPA describes, “Mold spores are ubiquitous; they are found both indoors and outdoors. Mold spores cannot be eliminated from indoor environments.” Mold spores are in the air we breathe each day, but between our immune system and the general dryness of our homes, its why mold isn’t growing everywhere and getting us sick all the time. But when moisture problems occur within the house, your indoor humidity can begin to rise—this is when those mold spores begin to grow, breaking down and digesting anything that provides it with the proper nutrition. This causes the mold to spread.
But as stated earlier, even if mold spores land on a suitable surface, it can’t begin to grow without that much-needed moisture. Keeping the moisture levels in your home under control can prevent mold growth from starting. Let’s explore the ways that you can control moisture in your home!
During home construction, more land is excavated than needed for your basement or crawlspace. This is to make room for the workers to complete the construction job. Once your foundation is complete, that extra space is filled back up with the excavated soil. However, that excavated soil is much less compacted than the rest of the surrounding soil. Loose soil absorbs water easier. What’s more, that same soil will also begin to settle, eventually creating more of a dip that will lead to water running towards your home foundation whenever it rains.
With proper grading that slopes away from your home, you can help prevent that water from simply running to your foundation—instead you can help guide that water away from your home as it falls. It is recommended that the ground around your foundation be sloped at 5%, or 6 inches for every 10 ft.
Rain gutters are useful, but only when they’re clear of leaves and other debris. Make sure to regularly maintain your gutters and clean them in preparation for the next rain. The same goes for your downspouts. A clear downspout will properly guide water out and away from your home. However, some downspouts are not effective enough because they are too short, simply dispensing rainwater right on your foundation. In these cases, you should consider getting a downspout extension. With the proper grading and an extended downspout, you’ll have an effective combination that will keep much rainwater from soaking down and sitting against your foundation.
Even still, this will only go so far. To ensure a complete defense against moisture invasion, you will want to consider basement waterproofing or crawlspace encapsulation as well.
Not even a home’s concrete foundation can withstand the forces of nature forever. After enough time and rain, a concrete foundation can start to give in to the eroding forces of water and hydrostatic pressure created by that water as it presses against that foundation. When foundation cracks occur, they provide that hydrostatic pressure with a point of least resistance, causing water to seep its way through and eventually into your lower level. That invasive moisture can lead to increased humidity and even a flooded basement or crawlspace—a perfect environment for mold to start growing.
Proper waterproofing measures within your lower level can greatly reduce the chance of mold taking root and growing in your home. A waterproofing solution may include these products:
Together these components can help form a comprehensive waterproofing solution that controls the groundwater surrounding your home and relieving your foundation of that hydrostatic pressure. Ultimately, this prevents groundwater from invading your lower level and giving any mold spores the moisture to grow.
Mold can be difficult to remove on your own. The right tools and techniques can help prevent the spread of fungal fragments and spores. That’s where a professional mold specialist can help solve your mold situation.
While it’s common for homeowners to try using a bleach solution to take care of mold, the bleach doesn’t always kill the mold or the mold spores. Bleach is only effective when used on a hard, non-porous surface such as a sink, a shower, or a toilet. But even then, it serves mostly as a temporary measure against mold for homeowners trying to take care of things themselves.
Unfortunately, home remedies are not as effective or thorough as the solutions that mold specialists may have. While hydrogen peroxide is commonly used by mold specialists, there’s the concern of chemical burden. That’s why ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing is proud to be an exclusive DOT ambassador as it pursues better mold removal solutions for the good of homeowners and their homes.
’58 Foundations & Waterproofing utilizes Carnegie Mellon’s DOT technology to effectively remove mold with less chemical burden. What’s more, with DOT, our mold removal services can both get rid of mold while leaving your wooden surfaces looking like new. Our mold technicians are NORMI, MICRO, and IICRC certified. With ’58 on your side, you can breathe easy knowing that your home will be made mold free!
Give the moisture experts at ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing a call at (888) 698-1958 and they’ll have a mold expert provide you with a free inspection and a zero-obligation price estimate!
Sources for Links:
CDC: Fungal Diseases, Aspergillosis
https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/aspergillosis/definition.html
CDC: Basic Facts About Mold and Dampness FAQ
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm
EPA: Mold Course
https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-course-chapter-1
PLOS Pathogens: Fungi and the Rise of Mammals
https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1002808
PLOS Pathogens: Updating the Fungal Infection-Mammalian Selection Hypothesis at the End of the Cretaceous Period
https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1008451
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
Nowadays, every company – large and small, old and new – is offering a “Lifetime Warranty” for their waterproofing system.
As a consumer, you must be thinking, “Ok, great, I’m covered.”
But how true is this? How covered are you?
The typical lifespan of a contracting business – if they make it past the typical 12.5 years (see study below) – is the span of working years of the average owner.
This leaves your life-of-the-structure warranty vulnerable to:
In a 2015 study on the “Determination of the Lifespan of Construction Company with Respect to its Market Value” it was found that the average lifespan of large publicly owned construction companies was 40 to 50 years. A family-owned construction business’ average lifespan was 24 years. Other companies, that could include partnerships and sole proprietorships average just 12.5 years.
In a Harvard University study titled, “Achieving Scale in the Residential Remodeling Industry,” stated that “the vast majority of companies are relatively small, single-location businesses that likely will not experience any significant growth over the course of the business’s life-cycle. These small-scale contractors focusing on local markets are thus highly susceptible to failure with each swing of the business cycle.”
In the same Harvard study, it showed that each year between 12.9% and 17.2% of all remodeling contractors go out of business.
Your Lifetime Warranty suddenly looks more like a 24 year at best, a 12.5 year, or possibly even a one-year warranty depending on where in the lifecycle that the contractor is.
This is simply to show that not all “Lifetime Warranties” have the same meaning. In actuality, a “Lifetime Warranty” really refers to the lifetime of the business offering the warranty!
But not at ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing!
We hold and continue to service the longest running Lifetime Warranties in the business. At 64 years, ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing knows how to succeed – pun intended.
The structure of our business, the bylaws and general practices, have built ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing into a well-oiled machine designed to support its customers across the ages.
Back in the 1950s when we introduced our life-of-the-structure warranty, we weren’t copying anybody to make sales. We didn’t even need to offer a life-of-the-structure warranty at all. In fact, there was no basement waterproofing industry to speak of at the time. We simply knew the capabilities of our system and the manner-in-which to build the business that would keep it running from owner to owner – much like how many franchises operate.
Luckily, we understood basement waterproofing way back in the 50’s. We didn’t go with an easier-to-install, on-the-footer system that handles less water. We went with a deeper, more water-volume handling system. Otherwise, we very well may have been run out of business by the weight of our lifetime warranties.
To sum up… The true meaning of a “Lifetime Warranty” is the lifetime of the business behind the warranty.
When you are deciding on purchasing a waterproofing system, know that you are not buying apples-to-apples when it comes to the warranty behind the work.
Choose ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing if you are looking for long-term value and the longest running warranty… with lot longer ahead of us!
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
Interior basement waterproofing is our specialty at ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing. Since 1958, we have continually improved on our ’58 Foundations & Waterproofing Basement Waterproofing System and our waterproofing methods, remaining a company that people can rely on for quality products and honest methods. Since our founding over 60 years ago, we’ve helped countless homeowners keep their basements dry for many years.
Our basement waterproofing services begin with a comprehensive waterproofing inspection. A trusted and knowledgeable ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing representative will come to your home and perform a multipoint inspection of your basement and the area surrounding your home, looking to pinpoint the source of groundwater intrusion. Once we’ve found the source, we’ll provide a detailed estimate, and offer to install our ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing Basement Waterproofing System. This system is backed by one of the best warranties in the industry, so you can rest assured that your investment will be protected.
We like to say that we’re experts at interior basement waterproofing, but don’t just take our word for it. We have an excellent reputation for providing premium-quality basement waterproofing solutions, and we’re proud to display the many testimonials that we’ve received from our happy customers.
If you would like more information on interior basement waterproofing, contact your nearest ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing location today. One of our helpful representatives will be happy to assist you and answer any questions you have!
Are you worried about your home having a cracking foundation? Have you found a foundation crack that you never noticed before, or one that seems to be growing? Not all foundation cracks are necessarily a cause for alarm. Sometimes, these are hairline cracks caused by shrinkage as the concrete dries after construction. However, a sizable crack or one that appears to be growing should be evaluated by a qualified foundation repair expert. In general, a crack wider than 1/16 inches is likely to be an indication of a bigger problem. For example, it could mean that your foundation is coming directly into contact with the water table, creating what’s called hydrostatic pressure.
Hydrostatic pressure is created when that water sits against the foundation, pressing against the foundation walls and floor. An elevated water table is common in areas with poor drainage and can be a real nuisance for homeowners trying to keep their foundations safe and their basements free of groundwater and invasive moisture.
Foundation cracks can have a variety of causes. These can include…
Keeping your foundation in good condition is essential to preserving the structural integrity of your house. Though it might be perfectly feasible to patch a minor crack on your own, there are foundation problems that will almost always require the attention of a trained foundation repair expert. From a big crack in your foundation floor to bowing basement walls, these are examples where an expert solution will be needed to ensure your home remains stable and healthy.
At ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing, we offer a variety of approved foundation repair solutions. Whether you have a stair-step crack in your foundation wall or a crack in your basement floor, ’58 has a solution to restore your foundation’s stability and your peace of mind. From our Carbon ’58 Wall Straps to our ’58 Strong Helical Piers, our quality products are designed to provide effective and long-lasting repairs to your foundation. Since 1958, ‘58 Foundations & Waterproofing has a well-earned reputation, providing over 64 years of guaranteed results!
We have local offices throughout the Eastern Seaboard. Whether you’re a resident near Charlotte, NC, Baltimore, MD, or Knoxville, TN, there’s a team of ’58 foundation experts ready to help!
If you’re worried that you’re having a cracking foundation situation, you can always lean on ’58 for help! Contact us today to schedule for a free inspection and to receive a detailed estimate! Be sure to also ask about our industry-leading life-of-the-structure warranty and money-back guarantee!
You may have an untapped source of income under your house. Did you know that your basement could be made into an apartment?
Yes indeed, when it’s finished, safe and comfortable, your basement could become an apartment that enables you to collect a steady—and substantial—rental income.
But this income could vanish in an instant if your basement were to flood.
Though your foundation walls and floor are made of concrete, even the strongest building materials can give way to the powerful force water produces.
When it rains, water soaks into the soil around your home. Some of the water may come to rest against your foundation and begin to build as the water table rises. Once the water meets your foundation, the water creates what’s known as hydrostatic pressure.
The pressure can cause groundwater to seep through the cold joints of your foundation and infiltrate your basement. Meanwhile, moisture may penetrate the foundation’s porous concrete, adding to the humidity in the basement. Hydrostatic pressure can lead to a variety of problems:
As you can imagine, these kinds of problems could leave a basement apartment swamped with water and moisture, and/or damage the home’s structure. In both cases, the basement is unsuitable as an apartment.
A wet or damp basement can also lead to:
In addition to causing structural damage, the moldy environment can pollute your indoor air with allergens including mold spores and dust mite fecal particles. Individuals with mold allergies, respiratory illnesses, or a compromised immune system can become quite sick because of these allergens.
While there’s no way to block out 100% of the water and moisture, your basement can be made livable with an interior basement waterproofing system that directs water away from your home.
At a minimum, an interior waterproofing system involves:
Depending on the situation, there may be a need for additional components such as dehumidifiers, moisture vapor barriers, and rigid sealers.
An interior waterproofing system features drainage channels installed either on or beside the footer at the perimeter of your basement’s interior. The drainage channels capture water as it comes to meet your foundation and guides the groundwater towards a sump pit where a sump pump dispenses it through the discharge pipe to a safe distance from your home.
This whole process will reduce the hydrostatic pressure on your foundation. In turn, this lowers the chances of groundwater intrusion and invasive moisture.
After putting a robust, long-term waterproofing system in place, you’ll be all set to create an apartment-style living space. Next steps include flooring, drywall, carpentry, and anything else you may need to set up a basement apartment.
’58 Foundations & Waterproofing has been protecting basements against the effects of groundwater intrusion and moisture since 1958.
For your peace of mind, we offer an industry-leading life-of-the-structure warranty and a money-back guarantee to back our work. We take pride in the more than 2,000 positive online reviews we’ve earned, and we’ve even won the Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau.
’58 Foundations & Waterproofing goes beyond just being a basement waterproofing contractor—we’re the waterproofing company that homeowners love. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and to receive a zero-obligation cost estimate.
Rental incomes are sourced from the “World Population Review” website.
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.
We respect your privacy. By submitting, you authorize '58 Foundations and Waterproofing to reach you via call, email or text for information about your project needs. We will never share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. You can opt out at any time. Message/data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Privacy Policy