Even Newer Homes Can Have Problem Basements
Challenge
People build homes for many reasons, and often they desire a new one to enjoy a life without repairs or updates for years to come. However, even newer homes can have problem basements.
Four common issues include:
- Foundation cracks can occur within a few short years, as the area around the newly constructed home settles.
- Concrete is a porous material, and if the home was built in a low-lying wet area or without the proper grading water intrusion may occur.
- Rainwater management systems are sometimes ineffective; this can include improper grading, incorrectly placed downspouts and frozen or poorly installed discharge lines.
- Ineffective exterior waterproofing methods which just don’t last, such as ineffective membranes and clogged footing drains.
By their nature, basements, particularly unfinished basements, are often a cold and damp space – and even in new construction, problems in the basement can affect the entire home.
This home in Springfield, ON had a very high relative humidity reading. (To learn more about relative humidity, please click here.) A basement should register below 55% relative humidity. Mould and mildew flourish when relative humidity is above 60%. Even with a continuously running dehumidifier, the basement and the entire home had a higher than healthy moisture level.
The sump pump was not powerful enough to handle heavy rainfall as this new home is situated in a low-lying area. The sump pit was dirty which can cause the pump to clog and fail.
Solution
Our team installed our powerful TripleSafe Sump Pump and included a battery backup pump which will protect the basement in the event of a power outage.
We improved the exterior drainage of the home by installing an IceGuard® Discharge System. Sump pump discharge lines are prone to freeze in our cold southwestern Ontario winters, and this can halt the discharge process, resulting in backup and flooded basements. The IceGuard® Discharge System automatically ejects the water away from the exterior wall when the discharge line freezes.
Because this basement is humid by its nature, our team also installed the SaniDry™ Sedona Dehumidifier. It's the world's most efficient, high-performance dehumidifier, which drains automatically into the newly installed sump pump system. It also features a humidity sensor that monitors the air, so once it's installed, there's nothing else to do.
If you would like a healthy and dry basement, we’d be pleased if you considered Advanced Basement Systems for the job. Please call us for your free inspection and estimate, or submit your information online. 1-800-638-7048
Project Summary
Inspector: Sam
Foreman: Paul
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