Winter Waterproofing 101: Protecting your Home from Moisture
Ohio is no stranger to snow, ice, and rain during the winter months and may even experience all these elements in a single day. In fact, Ohioans have coined a phrase: "If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes." Snow or ice thawing and melting can cause real damage to your home’s basement or crawl space. Excess water from melting can cause soil to shift, cracked foundations, wood rot, flooding, mold, and mildew. Protect your home from these outside elements by waterproofing your basement or crawl space.
DIY Solutions
If you don’t have water currently in your home, but you want to prepare for big melts, there are a couple DIY ways to help prevent water damage.
Gutters and Proper Drainage
To guarantee that water is moving away from the house from the outside, you can check your gutters and downspouts. Make sure they are clear of debris and move water away from the foundation.
Seal small cracks and Apply Weatherstripping
To prevent water from infiltrating your basement or crawl space, you can seal small cracks and apply weatherstripping to windows and doors. Small cracks in your foundation may be caused by excess water pressing against your foundation. These are temporary solutions to a bigger issue, so be aware that a more permanent solution to cracks and gaps may be needed in the future.
Professional and Permanent Waterproofing Solution
Having patented and proven waterproofing products installed in your home is the best solution to permanently keeping your basement dry and protected from moisture.
Encapsulation or Wall Covering System
Installing crawl space encapsulation or wall covering system can prevent stagnant moisture from creating damage. CleanSpace vapor barrier is your one-stop product against water issues. CleanSpace is a 20mil thick pool-liner-like material that is super durable. Not only is it tear-resistant, but it is antimicrobial so mold and mildew cannot grow. Suitable for walls and floors, this system creates a continuous air and moisture barrier.
Perimeter Drainage Systems and Sump Pumps
Having a reliable perimeter drainage system and sump pump installed in your home is vital in protecting the foundation from water damage. WaterGuard is a nearly invisible drainage piping that is installed along the basement floor. It is built not to clog or be affected by plant roots. WaterGuard effectively catches wall and floor leakage and moves the water through the pipe into the sump pump. We recommend installing WaterGuard alongside the TripleSafe sump pump system.
TripleSafe is unique in the fact that it has three separate pumps that work in different instances to eject water away from your foundation. The first 1/3 horsepower pump does most of the pumping and can handle up to 2,600 gallons of water. But, in the winter months when there is freezing and thawing, there might be an excess amount of water. In that case, the second pump will kick on and can handle up to 6,200 gallons of water per hour. The last pump is battery-operated and ensures that the sump pump will still eject water away even in a power outage.
Permanent Crack Repair
Cracks in the foundation can stem from multiple things, but it is common for them to appear when there is hydrostatic pressure surrounding the home. Hydrostatic pressure happens when rain or snow builds up underground and then pushes against the foundation of a home, causing cracks to appear. It’s vital to permanently repair cracks in the foundation because they can create structural problems in the future, such as bowed or shifting walls. FlexiSpan is a crack repair system that prevents leakage through cracks. FlexiSpan is a three-part process that ensures a permanently sealed crack. This process includes using a flexible sealant along the full length of the crack, then installing a porous foam over it and finally adhering to an impermeable membrane on both sides of the foam. This fail-safe product will not allow future water seepage to damage your foundation.
Moisture and high humidity levels can increase with the icing and thawing of snow in the wintertime. If there is a way for water to get inside your basement, then there is moisture present on your walls, floors, and in the air. Mold growth can happen if water is present in your basement or crawl space and can cause health issues if not addressed. Placing a dehumidifier in your basement or crawl space is a way to prevent humidity from creating such unhealthy side effects.
The SaniDry Sedona is the world’s most efficient, high-performance dehumidifier and filtration system. When installed in your basement or crawl space, the SaniDry will stop mold growth, musty odors, and dust mites. Additionally, the SaniDry is self-draining, so you can set it and forget it.