Basement Waterproofing in Northern Ohio
How to Fix a Wet Basement
Fixing a wet basement is not a do-it-yourself project. It involves some understanding of what causes a basement to leak and the various methods for repair. Ohio Basement Systems is the authorized Basement Systems dealer in Northern Ohio - we're qualified and certified to fix a leaky wet basement. Call us or fill out our form for a Free Basement Waterproofing Quote and Inspection, or keep reading to learn more about basement waterproofing.
Who we are: Ohio Basement Systems is a highly trained team of basement waterproofing experts. Our production and service
departments, system design specialists, and customer service people are trained at the Basement Systems Inc. corporate headquarters in Connecticut and always try to go that extra mile. Read more about us.
Learning about Basement Waterproofing in Northern Ohio
Basements often begin to leak because
the outside drainage system has failed
or clogged.
Basement waterproofing and basement foundations vary from region to region throughout the state. As a basement waterproofing contractor in Northern Ohio, we've seen numerous basement waterproofing methods in various combinations of basement foundation types. None being more prone or protective to a basement water leak.
Water leaking into basements is a problem that has troubled homeowners for more than 100 years. Water enters the basement through the walls, floors, and joints between them. Over the years, contractors and engineers have developed a wide variety of methods to keep basements dry. Some of these methods are more effective than others.
There are four basic reasons that cause basement water, moisture, and dampness problems:
Surface Water:
Excess surface water penetrates the exterior foundation walls, and enters the basement through gaps, foundation cracks, and seams. Excess surface water generally occurs as a result of non-functioning gutters and downspouts, or reverse grades. Both will send water toward the foundation instead of away from it.
Footing Drains:
The drainage system installed around the exterior perimeter of the foundation, down below the level of the basement floor, is designed to drain water that accumulates at the bottom of the the foundation. If the drainage system fails, usually as a result of clogging over time, water builds around the exterior perimeter. Pressure is created when the water has no place to drain. It is only a matter of time before the water is forced into openings at the base of the foundation, usually through the seam where the wall and floor meet. If the foundation is built from hollow concrete blocks, water can rise upwards in the blocks, and show up in areas above the level of the floor.
Vapor Transmission:
Because foundation building materials are made from porous masonry products, water vapor can move through the foundation, from the cooler damper soils, into the warmer, drier, environment of the basement. This is the reason that vapor barriers are required when installing wall or floor covering.
Humidity:
In the warmer, humid months, warm, humid air circulating into the basement shrinks as it cools from the lower air temperatures in the basement. As the air cools and shrinks, the relative humidity increases. As it continues to cool, or comes in contact with cooler surfaces, like cold water pipes or cold concrete walls and floors, the water condenses. Cold water pipes drip water onto the floor. Dampness appears on basement walls and floors.
The flange on the WaterGuard system captures wall leaks while keeping
debris from clogging the system.
Warranty for Basement Waterproofing Systems
This is only an example and does not imply or act as a warranty.
We feel that it is important that you understand the warranty, and especially to note that this is not a guarantee of a dry basement. Any contractor that makes this claim is being dishonest -- if this point is not clear, you can call the office or speak with your System Design Specialist about it. We warrant our state-of-the-art products and their installation.
The warranty for a Basement Systems' WaterGuard or DryTrak basement waterproofing system states that if water from the walls or floor wall joint passes through the perimeter water control system and onto the basement floor that Ohio Basement Systems will provide the additional labor and materials to fix the leak at no additional charge to the homeowner. This warranty applies to only the areas where the system is installed (it's one of the reasons why we always recommend a full perimeter system).
Transferring the Warranty
The warranty may be transferred to future homeowners provided Ohio Basement Systems is notified within 30 days of the real estate transfer.
In addition, pump or power failure is possible, therefore this warranty is not a guarantee of a dry basement, as the scope of this work can not guarantee a dry basement in all circumstances. Your System Design Specialist will make recommendations that will help to statistically lower your chances of ever having water in your basement again. Listen to the recommendations and base your purchasing decisions on your tolerance of ever having a wet basement again. Products like the TripleSafe sump pump system are specifically designed to help lower chances that a pump or power failure will cause future flooding.
Some products, such as the sump pumps and SaniDry dehumidifiers, have their own manufacturer's warranties, which your System Design Specialist can explain to you. There is more to the warranty that you will get at the time of your Free Estimate and Inspection.