Why do I have water in my basement? Water leakage can occur for a
variety of reasons. One of the most common causes for water
leaking into the basement is due to the natural water table
or "fake" water table rising because of structural
problems such as, reversed or poor grading, downspouts,
cracked sidewalks, etc. Water leakage can also occur through
wall seepage, window wells, bilco or basement doors, and floor
and wall cracks. In some cases, the water leakage may also
be caused by a hidden plumbing problem.
Is there a quick fix to my problem? Yes there is. In some cases,
you can stop the water from entering your basement by taking
a few simple measurements that are not expensive to implement.
Before you make a huge investment into your basement, it is
a good idea to check that all downspouts are diverged away
from the house, make any necessary grading corrections, and
possibly adding a sump
pump.
Why should I waterproof my basement? Although simple measurements
as described above can stop water from entering your basement,
they do not guarantee that water will never be present. There
are only two systems that will give you 100% guarantee that
water will never appear in your basement-Basement
Water Management System and
Exterior Foundation Drainage System. Though they are more
costly to implement than the quick fixes mentioned above,
these systems will increase your property value and save you
money long term. Families who have never had water problems,
spend tens of thousands of dollars finishing and furnishing
their basements only to loose everything to water damage.
Don't let this happen to you. Make sure that you have one
of these two systems in place before you invest any more money
into your basement.
I Have a gap between my floor and the wall.
Is this a French Drain? Yes it is. During construction,
many houses are suited with a "French Drain" and many others
are suited with foundation drains. Unfortunately, these drains
were most likely installed by someone other than a qualified
waterproofing company and sooner or later fail. French Drains
give a false sense of security and are not reliable. To avoid
any water, mold, or structural
problems in your basement, you need to have a Basement
Water Management System in place.
Do I have mold growing in my basement? Mold cannot grow without water.
If you have a water-damaged area that is left untreated for
more than 24-48 hours, it is possible you have mold, even
if it is not clearly visible. Mold reproduces by means of
microscopic spores that float through outdoor and indoor air.
Mold begins growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces
that are wet. Though mold is part of our natural environment
outdoors, mold must be avoided indoors because of its danger
to our health. If there is mold growth in your home, you must
clean up the mold and fix the water problem as soon as possible.
Can mold cause health problems? Yes, mold can become a health
problem indoors when it comes in contact with water. When
this happens, mold will start to grow and contaminate the
air with allergens, irritants and in some cases, toxic substances.
Health problems can range from moderate to severe allergic
reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, itching, and asthma.
If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the
mold and fix the water problem as soon as possible.
How do I get rid of mold? It is impossible to get rid of
all mold and mold spores indoors because a small percentage
of mold spores will always be present in the air and in house
dust. This is not dangerous to our health as long as the mold
spores do not multiply by coming into contact with moisture.
Mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor
mold growth can and should be prevented by controlling moisture
indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean
up the mold and fix the water problem as soon as possible.
If you choose to hire a contractor to do the cleanup, make
sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold and solving
the water and moisture problem. Also ask the contractor to
follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools
and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference
of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other guidelines
from professional or government organizations. For more information
on these guidelines please visit the US Environmental Protection
Agency by clicking the link below:
Amazonia Waterproofing
Mold Remediation Technicians have been removing mold for over
ten years in the New Jersey area. We follow all EPA guidelines
and procedures when removing mold growth in your basement.
Our Mold Remediation Technicians also
block future mold growth by using humidity
control devices and fixing the water
problem.
