Healthy Basement Systems Q&A

Do I need a sump pump?

If water in your basement is an issue, you probably need a sump pump. The main function of a sump pump is to collect and discard unwanted water in your basement. An effective sump pump can determine whether or not your home is protected from flooding, standing water, or any other source of intruding water that can enter your home. Our TripleSafe sump pump system can protect your home with 3 effective pumps in one liner. The first pump is an effective pump that will do most of the work. The second pump is higher in the liner and automatically turns on if the first pump cannot keep up. The third pump is a battery-powered pump that makes sure the sump pump protects your home even if the power goes out.

How can I eliminate the moldy smell coming up from my basement or crawlspace?

Mold can thrive anywhere there is moisture and organic material (like wood) that it uses as a 'food' source. That makes a basement or crawlspace an ideal haven. Encapsulation and dehumidification are the keys to getting rid of mold problems and their accompanying smells. Our CleanSpace vapor barrier will protect your crawlspace from moisture coming in through the walls and floor in your crawlspace. Adding a SaniDry dehumidifier takes care of any remaining ambient moisture, which makes your crawlspace unhospitable to mold.

How can I insulate my basement or crawlspace?

Cold air rising from the basement or crawlspace floor, walls, or through gaps and spaces in the rim joists, could be causing you to feel like your walking on ice in your own home. Insulating these three areas can lead to warmer floors and lower electric bills.

TerraBlock insulation is a foam insulation with vapor barrier included that is great for floors. Our SilverGlo insulation creates a radiant barrier on the walls that reflects heat back into the basement.

How can I lower my energy bills?

Cold air entering through the basement or crawlspace works its way upward into the home, driving energy expenses through the roof. Insulating your crawlspace and basement can help keep the the entire home warmer and keep those bills lower.

In crawlspaces, ultimate energy savings can be acheived through three simple steps. We install TerraBlock insulation on crawl space floors. This is foam inslulation with a vapor barrier on both sides. We also put SilverGlo insulation on the walls to provide a thermal barrier and reflect heat back into the crawl space. Finally, we use RimTight on the rim joists to seal off common entry points for unwanted outside air.

These solutions will lead to considerably warmer spaces in the cold months and ultimately lower your energy bills.

How many vents are needed in a crawl space?

ZERO. The need to "air out" a crawl space to prevent moisture and mold is a common misconception - the only way to keep your crawl space safe from the effects of ambient moisture and mold is to encapsulate it entirely with a product like our CleanSpace vapor barrier.

How to fix cracks in basement walls?

If you have a crack in your basement wall that needs to be fixed, the specialized FlexiSpan wall system will come to the rescue.

FlexiSpan is used to completely seal off cracks on your wall, while accomodating the movement of the wall over time. The sealant is made to move with the wall's natural shift to prevent the crack from expanding or growing. It is also waterproof, which prevents the sealant from deteriorating over time.

How to fix uneven floors?

Especially when there are water issues, crawl space support beams can weaken. This is exacerbated by the presence of mold, which loves moisture and organic material (like wooden beams) and can further degrade the beams. This creates soft spots in your floor as the beams bow and even break. We use SmartJacks, which are steel support posts, to stabilize and reinforce your crawlspace. We can sister wooden or even steel beams to the existing structure to add stability in conjunction with the SmartJacks.

How to remove humidity from basement?

Keeping humidity out of your basement is very important when it comes to keeping your basement healthy. A basement humidifier is a great addition to any basement facing humidity issues as it will filter the moisture out of the air, helping to prevent mold growth. At Healthy Basement Systems we have a basement dehumidifier that will not only filter moisture out of the air but it will also filter out small mold and mildew particles that might be in the air, helping to improve the air quality in the basement. Our SaniDry dehumidifier is a self-discharging dehumidifier meaning you won't have to worry about emptying a water bucket, making it the perfect addition to any basement facing humidity issues.

How to remove water from a wet basement.

We know water in your basement can be a pain - and we want to help. We have an array of patented waterproofing products that can be installed to keep water out of your basement for the long-haul. The WaterGuard French drain system, for instance, collects water that seeps into your basement from the wall and redirects it to the sump pump in the home. As for sump pumps. the TripleSafe or the SuperSump are both great options, depending on your needs. The first step to figuring out your real problem is to pick up the phone and have one of our specialists come take a lot.

How to stop water coming in basement?

The best way to stop water from coming in your basement is by: First, identify where the water is coming from, this could be from groundwater, a leaking pipe, or poor exterior drainage. Second, have an interior drainage system installed in the basement if the water entering your basement is from poor exterior drainage or groundwater. An interior drainage system involves installing WaterGuard around the perimeter of the basement and connecting it to a sump pump system. As water enters the sump pump it will automatically discharge any water that enters the system, keeping your basement dry and usable. Third, Waterproof the basement walls using CleanSpace Wall System. This is better than painting your walls as it will prevent water and moisture from entering your basement space while directing any water or moisture into our waterproofing system. Fourth, Install a dehumidifier in the basement that will filter out any moisture, mold, or mildew particles from the air. At Healthy Basement Systems, we offer free estimates and inspections to help determine the best way to keep your basement dry all the time. Contact us today to make your basement dry and usable all the time.

How to ventilate and waterproof a crawl space?

Moisture in a crawl space requires a few different products for a full solution. First, encapsulation protects the crawl space from moisture entering through the walls and floor. Our CleanSpace vapor barrier creates a water-tight seal. Second, a dehumidifier will mitigate any remaining ambient moisture (humidity) to prevent mold growth.

How to waterproof a wet basement?

Waterproofing your basement can mean many things, depending on where the water is coming in, how much water there is, and other factors like the soil composition and height of the water table surrounding your home. It often involves installing a below-floor perimeter system like our WaterGuard, and a sump pump is usually necessary. For the most common water problems, this is a kind of baseline of what will need to be installed. Depending on other factors in your basement, other processes may be vital to keeping it dry. This will all be explained at your free inspection - we'll go through the what, the why, and the how much.

What is a french drain?

A French Drain sits in a perforated pipe that sits in a trench filled with gravel. This pipe will collect any water that tries to seep into the basement and directs it to a sump pump system, that then discharges the water out of the home and away from foundation of the home.

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