Basement Repair: How Basements Leak in Ohio
Any good basement waterproofer knows that wet basements come in all shapes and sizes, and no two basement repair jobs are exactly the same.
Fortunately, nearly all basement waterproofing repairs can be accomplished by a professional in a single day, or sometimes two. Smaller jobs, such as installing basement windows or repairing a basement wall crack, can even be done in a couple of hours.
Ohio Basement Systems is your local and professional basement waterproofing contractor in Northern Ohio. We serve Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain and all surrounding areas. For a FREE wet basement repair quote, call or contact us online today!
Flooding through the Basement Wall-Floor Joint
The most common way ground water leaks into a home in Ohio is through the basement wall-floor joint.
Stop the water from flooding your basement right at the point where it's causing the problem- along the perimeter of the basement floor. Ohio Basement Systems does this by removing a portion of the basement floor, creating a trench, and filling it with clean stone. On top of this stone, the patented WaterGuard system, an innovation on old-fashioned French drains and Drain tile, is laid. The system is back filled with more clean stone and concreted over so the floor is restored flush. A unique wall flange creates a 3/8" opening to receive any water from the basement walls, while preventing dirt & debris from the basement floor from clogging the system. It also provides a very neat and clean finished look to the system.
The drain leads the basement water to a sump pump system, which will then discharge it outside through a buried PVC pipe and away from your home.
Leaking Basement Floors in Cleveland, OH
If there are leaking floor cracks, a basement drainage system and a sump pump is still the answer. A lateral line can be installed along the crack, collecting the water and directing it to your sump pump system. A full perimeter system will be able to prevent most water from entering through the cracks in the first place- your basement waterproofer may not recommend a lateral line for smaller cracks in the floor for this reason.
Basement Water from Hatchway Doors
A perimeter drainage system can also address water leaking in through basement hatchway doors in Ohio. At the bottom of the hatchway stairs, a grated drain is placed to receive water from this area. The water will travel from this grated opening and enter the waterproofing system. Depending on your hatchway design, different options may be recommended.
Leaking Basement Windows
If you having leaking basement windows, a special drain called WellDuct can be installed which will capture the water as it pools below the basement window, draining it into the basement perimeter drain. If replacing the basement windows is an option, you may be interested in new, energy-efficient basement windows.
These can be combined with a covered basement window well that will deflect rain, water, and debris from the basement window opening as well as cold winter wind. The SunHouse, recommended by Ohio Basement Systems of Macedonia, is also designed to reflect as much sunlight as possible into your basement space with its unique, bright bottom and sides.
Water from Basement Wall Cracks and Pipe Penetrations
The natural curing process of concrete can easily create cracks in even new home foundations. When holes are drilled in basement walls to allow access for pipes, wires and cables, they often leave an opening large enough to allow water access.
Ohio Basement Systems solves the problem of leaking wall cracks and pipe penetrations by sealing the opening with the FlexiSpan system. First, the opening is sealed with a special polyurethane polymer. This polymer can flex with the basement wall, meaning that it will not lose its bond as the concrete swells and shrinks with moisture and temperature changes.
Over this seal, a second layer of protection is adhered and run down into a small drywall created beneath the basement floor or into the perimeter drain system. This foam strip is then covered again with the strong, flexible coating to give it a professional, neat appearance and the floor is re-cemented flush with no gap or openings left behind.
Failing Water Heaters in Akron, OH & Nearby
Water heaters can be expected to fail approximately every 7 years or so. When they do, they often leak water directly onto the basement floor. If your basement is finished or used to store valuable items, this water can be a damaging threat. Ohio Basement Systems recommends surrounding the water tank with a PVC ring, which can will drain water through a floor drain within the ring into the perimeter drainage system and will sound off a water-sensitive alarm to let you know a leak is occurring. FloodRing prevents gallons & gallons of water from flooding your basement!
Bursting Washing Machine Hoses
Cheap, rubber washing machine hoses are not designed to take the continuous 50-80 psi of pressure exerted against them at all times. When they burst, they can shoot out an incredible 650 gallons of water per hour! If you do not shut off your water each time you do laundry, (which most people don't), you should have this low cost protection added. FloodChek Hoses are industrial duty, triple-ply, have machined brass end connections and are warranted for 20 years!
Your Local Basement Contractor
When you decide that your basement water problem has to go, Ohio Basement Systems is ready to help! Serving Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain and the surrounding areas in Ohio, they're the local contractors you need. For a FREE inspection, written quote, and complimentary 88-page color book on basement waterproofing, call or contact us online today!