Yes!
We could end the blog there, but for the curious minds who need reasons behind the knowledge they gain (count me as one of them), we’re going to go into detail about why crawlspace encapsulation is the supreme solution to crawlspace pests.
The way this blog is titled, there are two ways to look at it: Where homes are most likely to flood inside the home, and where homes are most likely to flood in our geographical area. I’m going to answer both. One answer is much simpler than the other. Let’s dive in.
Whether you are selling or buying, we want to say, “Congratulations!” Moving homes is a huge milestone that comes with many rewards… and stresses. And now your home inspector just added another stress—they told you there is a crack in your foundation. The first though that crosses your mind is probably, “How much it this going to cost to fix?” The answer ranges from $0 to thousands. Why? Because not all foundation cracks are cause for concern.
There is an often forgotten about area of the home that is prone to flooding that can be disastrous if left unattended. If your home has an outdoor stairwell that leads to the basement and is subgrade (below ground level) then the bottom of that stairwell is an area of concern that should not be left unattended. Too often we have seen these stairwells turn into shallow swimming pools because they have an outdated or broken stairwell drain, or even worse, they don’t have one at all.
A stairwell drain is a system that removes water from the bottom of the stairwell. A stairwell without a drain has negative effects not only in the stairwell itself, but for the basement as a whole. Any standing water pressed against the foundation of your home is bad news. Standing water is heavier than people may think and exerts hydrostatic pressure against all surfaces it is in contact with. This hydrostatic pressure (over time) is capable of cracking concrete, creating cracks, and allowing the moisture to enter your basement.
Battery Backups are secondary sump pumps that turn on if the primary pump fails. They are integral to keeping your home safe during power outages, primary pump failures, or unexpected events (we’ll give you an example we had recently at the end).
Honestly, if you were to ask us ten years ago whether or not to invest in a Battery Backup, our answer would have been a flat no. Battery Backups were not well thought out and failed constantly. Now they have a terrible reputation as being a waste of money.
However, in the last ten years, Battery Backup technology has caught up to the times. We argue it is a mandatory part of your basement waterproofing system. Let’s break it down.