Want A Dry Basement All The Time?

We can help with that. Here are some primary things that can be done to achieve a dry basement.

1. Install an Effective Waterproofing System

If the basement has ever experienced any groundwater seepage at all, then it needs a quality basement waterproofing system like WaterGuard®, DryTrak® or other options available from Basement Systems. We know water problems never get better, they only get worse as the house ages and the drains and coatings that protected the house fail. Therefore, even if water seepage is a once-a-year occurrence, it needs to be fixed before the basement is finished, as flooding is likely to be more frequent in the future.

2. Install a Reliable Sump Pump with Alarm and Back-up System

You should have the best sump pump protection available to guard your home against flooding from primary pump failure, pump overload from torrential rains, and power failure.

Basement Systems’ TripleSafe® sump pump system stands ready with primary and secondary AC-powered pumps and a third battery-operated backup pump in a single airtight sump liner. TheTripleSafe system automatically pumps out water in the event that the power goes out or the primary pump mechanically fails to operate. Without this triple protection, your finished basement is only one pump or power failure away from a flood. Ensure a dry basement all the time with triple protection.

A WaterWatch Alarm® is standard on all Basement Systems pump systems and will sound off to alert you to pump failure before your floor gets wet.

3. Guard Against Floods from Frozen Sump Discharge Lines

If you have a sump pump, it probably discharges outside. Snow and ice can block the opening and cause it to freeze. When this happens your pump will be running and the water can't get out, causing your basement to flood.

Basement Systems IceGuard®, which is standard on most systems, will prevent this problem automatically.

4. Install a vapor barrier on the walls

Basement walls can leak higher up off of the floor. Water vapor can also pass through basement walls and contribute to a higher humidity level in the basement.

Installing a vapor barrier, preferably a high-quality, extra-durable one will direct water seepage down to the drainage system below and keep it off of the studs and wall finishings. It will also keep water vapor from getting into the basement environment and lower the humidity levels. It is important that the vapor barrier be tucked into the drainage system below if one exists. The top of the vapor barrier should be caulked to the top of the wall.

Even better, you can install a vapor-proof drainage sheet on the walls that will insulate, such as Basement Systems ThermalDry® WALL System, which reflects 97% of the heat back into your basement.

5. Keep the floor warm, dry and comfortable

Once you have eliminated any possible leakage problems in the basement, the next thing to eliminate is water vapor from coming through the concrete floor. Because concrete is porous, water vapor will slowly and continuously travel up through it. If you lay a carpet on top of the concrete floor, this moisture gets trapped under the carpet and causes odors, mold and rot in the carpet.

The ThermalDry Floor Matting System® is the only all-plastic basement subfloor in the world. Water won't ruin it. Water vapor won't go through it. Mold won't grow on it.

ThermalDry® basement floor tiles are 12-inch square and lock together vapor-tight with a shiplapped design. At only 1/2-inch high, they do not squander your basement ceiling height. They have a grid pattern on the bottom to allow air to flow beneath them so water vapor doesn't condense into water under them, as it often times will if you lay flat plastic against the floor.

The ThermalDry® basement floor covering tiles are the perfect solution for under carpeting.

6. Protect against common plumbing leaks

Any water leakage, whether it be from the ground or not, will have the same damaging effect on your finished basement. Basement Systems has easy solutions for common domestic water leaks.

The average life of a water heater is seven years, and when they fail, they usually leak and flood the basement. Basement Systems FloodRing® is the solution. The FloodRing® will contain water seepage and drain it to the waterproofing system when the water heater leaks.

7. Dehumidify the space

The SaniDry™ Basement Air System is a powerful and effective dehumidifier -big enough to do the job - where most standard dehumidifiers are too small

to make much difference. The SaniDry™ dries the air and automatically drains the water out of the hose, so you never have to empty it, like a conventional dehumidifer.

The SaniDry™ takes three times the amount of water out of the air as a typical dehumidifier, yet uses the same energy. The SaniDry™ has a powerful blower to draw musty air in and move the dry, clean air back out into the basement. This unit helps to ensure that you won't have high humidity or a musty odor in your basement.

8. Basic Exterior Maintenance Checklist

A few items to ensure proper water drainage that are simple to perform inlcude:

• Extend downspouts with Basement Systems RainChute system
• Be sure soil is graded with slope away from your foundation
• Keep gutters and downspouts clean
• Check window wells to ensure they are free of leaves and debris