Three Steps to Keep Your Ohio Basement Dry
Installing a basement waterproofing system inside of your home is a fantastic idea. With all the innovations that have been made in the last decade on old-fashioned drain tile, French drain, and weeping tile systems in Ohio, along with the modern and more reliable sump pump systems, a waterproofed basement is just a phone call away. If you have a wet basement and are looking for a solution, call Ohio Basement Systems of Macedonia, Ohio today for a free basement waterproofing inspection and quote!
However, to keep this water out, and to create a dry basement, something more may be needed. Moisture can easily travel through the concrete and mortar used in your foundation walls and floors- and even more easily through sections of exposed dirt.
Step 1: Install a Moisture Barrier on Your Walls and Floors
Even when the surfaces of your basement walls and floors look dry at a glance, you can be sure that moisture is entering the basement continually through the concrete in the form of water vapor.
There are several ways to tell if moisture is passing through to your basement. One of the most common is a white, flaky powder that accumulates on basement walls. This is known as efflorescence, and it's left behind as moisture leaves the basement walls and enters the air. Other signs include mold and musty smells in the basement and rust on your pipes, tools, or other metal in the space. If you're not sure if your basement floor is adding to your basement humidity, check it out by laying a layer of plastic on a section of your basement floor for several days. If the space underneath is damp or you see condensation on the plastic, then you know the moisture that would have passed upward was instead trapped underneath the plastic.
BrightWall Basement Wall Paneling
Basement wall coatings and paints are notorious for peeling and blistering off basement walls, eventually making the problem worse than before. The building efflorescence behind a waterproof coating or paint will damage its bond, destroying it in a few months or years.
Instead, Ohio Basement Systems recommends installing BrightWall, a plastic wall covering that is mechanically attached to the wall and can be installed as a vapor barrier. This easy-to-install basement wall covering will brighten the space and keep out moisture permanently, and will also direct any water seepage from the walls directly into the drainage system below.
ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting
Covering a basement floor with wood, chipboard squares, or carpeting will simply trap moisture underneath and lead to rot. Instead, install an inorganic plastic floor tiling system such as ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting. This tile creates a complete vapor barrier with a tongue & groove design. As an added bonus, each tile sits on raised pegs, creating a thermal break underneath that will make the flooring 8-10 degrees warmer than the cold floor below. Carpeting and other floating floor options can be installed directly on top of this floor matting. It is recommended that carpeting be installed with tack strips, so years from now when you replace your carpet you can use the same subfloor.
Both BrightWall and ThermalDry are available from Ohio Basement Systems in Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain and the surrounding areas in Ohio.
Step 2: Install a Reliable, Energy-Efficient Dehumidifier
Typical dehumidifiers are simply not powerful enough to keep a basement dry. Additionally, the cheap dehumidifiers sold at some hardware stores have collection trays that continually fill up, sometimes in as little as 8-12 hours. With 168 hours in a week, this means you'd have to empty your collection tray 14-21 times a week to keep it protecting your basement all the time?
Ohio Basement Systems has the answer to your dry basement needs: The SaniDry Basement Air System. This is the only dehumidifier available in Ohio that has the power and effectiveness you need!
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Seven Great Reasons to Choose the SaniDry
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SaniDry |
Standard Dehumidifier |
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Cost/Pint |
3.3 cents |
10 cents |
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Max Pints Removed Per Day |
100 |
30 |
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Energy-Star Rating |
Yes |
No |
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Self-Draining |
Yes |
Sometimes |
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Powerful Air-Circulating Fan |
Yes |
No |
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Can Be Ducted from Unfinished to Finished Basement |
Yes |
No |
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Odor-Eliminating/Particle Reducing Filter |
Optional |
No |
Step 3: Service your Sump Pump Regularly
A sump pump in Cleveland, Ohio contains mechanical parts, and like all appliances and utilities in your home, it will need routine maintenance. An annual visit by a service technician from Ohio Basement Systems can make sure your sump pump is clean and that all parts are working properly. The service specialist will test the pump, check the sump alarm battery, and check the charge on your battery backup sump pump. The sump and liner will be cleaned out, and potential problems with the discharge will be checked. The technician can look for new emerging problems in the basement and will flood check the system to ensure it's working properly and your basement will continue to be dry.
Contact a Basement Waterproofer in Ohio
Ohio Basement Systems is the premiere basement waterproofing contractor in Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain and surrounding parts of Ohio. If you're in need of wet basement repair, we're ready to help! Waterproofing is our specialty, and with our great reputation in the community, you can be sure we'll be here whenever you need us.
We offer free, no-obligation estimates to homeowners in our area. Each estimate includes an in-home inspection and a written quote. Call or contact us by e-mail today for a free basement repair quote!