Why Basement Leak
Adam, CEO of EcoSpect, provides a concise and informative video overview on why basements flood, covering issues such as poor drainage and foundation cracks. Basements should be dry and clean for a healthy living environment because 40% of the air we breathe comes from the basement or crawl space. If groundwater or rainwater seeps into your basement through a leak or a crack, you will face numerous problems. A moist basement allows mold and mildew to grow which inevitably deteriorates the living conditions. Mold can trigger allergens and other respiratory diseases.
- A faulty household appliance – Your refrigerator can leak or there can be a clogged pipe in your kitchen causing the sink to leak. When an interior appliance that operates with water malfunctions, it can flood your home and water can seep into the basement.
- Cracks in basement walls or floors- Over time, the walls and floors of the basement will crack or bow because of pressure and other issues. A crack, even if it a negligible one, can make your basement wet.
- Damaged gutter and downspouts- Gutters and downspouts are supposed to protect your foundation by keeping the rainwater away, a damaged gutter will cause water to enter the basement premises.
- Condensation- During the summers, hot air can come in contact with the cool basement walls creating condensation.
Level 1 Basement Waterproofing
Level 2 Basement Waterproofing
My home was built after 1978. Do I even need to be concerned with lead-based paint?
According to the EPA, only houses built BEFORE 1978 are considered target housing for Lead Based Paint. However, we do see older, salvaged or antique components used in newer homes as well as decorative pieces that contain lead-based paint.
How do I know if there is lead in the paint inside my home?
Are there over-the-counter testing options available?
What is the average cost of testing?
How long does a lead-based paint test take?
What do I need to do to prepare for testing?
Do I need to vacate the home while testing is done?
Do you need to remove pieces of my walls or windows in order to test them?
What is an XRF device?
How reliable are the results?
Will you share the results with me?
My house tested positive for lead paint. What do I do now?
Must I have the whole house repainted or can I just address the areas that tested positive?
Can I just clean the house really well and repaint on my own?
The areas that tested positive have been renovated. Do I need to do anything now?
Can lead dust be found only in my paint?
Where else can lead be found on my property?
Do I need to retest my home periodically?
What is radon gas and how does it get into my home?
Radon is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that forms naturally in the earth. As the earth shifts,
fissures and veins carrying radon gasses open and close. When those gasses release from the
earth into open air they dissipate. When the openings are under your home they run into your
slab/foundation. The gasses then enter through cracks, gaps and holes. Once inside, the gas can
become concentrated and dangerous.
What is an acceptable level of radon?
While there are no “safe” levels for sustained radon exposure, the EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency) recommends considering mitigation at levels of 2.0-3.9 pCi/l and considers
levels of 4.0 pCi/l or higher to be the level at which to mitigate.
How do I test my home?
An EPA certified Radon Testing Company will place an Activated Charcoal Canister in your
home for a minimum of 48 hours and submit the testing to a laboratory for results.
How often should I test my home?
EPA guidelines state a home should be tested every 2-5 years. More often if renovations that
involve the foundation have been done. This is because changes in the passageways in soil (high
water, construction, weather conditions etc.) as well as changes in the building condition (energy
improvements) can cause radon levels in the home to vary and change.
My neighbor has high level (low level) results. Should I have a test conducted?
Every home is different as are the fissures and veins that carry radon gasses under each home
different. What your neighbor’s test results are should be irrelevant to whether you test your
home or not. There are areas of New York that historically have high radon levels (Cortland
County and Yates County are two), but it is our opinion that every home should be tested to
confirm the radon gas levels.
My home is brand new (very old) why would I need a test done?
The terrific weatherization options now available for a home may actually be worse for dealing with radon gasses. Because the home is so efficiently sealed any gasses that enter are essentially trapped. Whereas older homes with loose caulking, ill-fitting doors and windows and poor insulation actually allow the radon gasses to dissipate.
What is the average installation cost?
There are several factors that can contribute to cost such as slab condition, composition of soil
under slab and whether you have a crawlspace or a full basement. Call us for a free, onsite
estimate.
How does a radon system work?
A radon mitigation system works by depressurizing the area underneath a basement slab or vapor barrier. The system draws the radon polluted air out of the house and expels the gas above the roof line with the use of a radon approved fan.
How long does it take to install a radon mitigation system?
A typical installation takes a single day to complete, however, there are instances where a second day is needed.
How will the installation change the ‘face’ of my home?
We do our best to keep the aesthetics of the home intact. If it is possible, we run the PVC piping alongside a chimney, we try to keep the piping in the rear of the home or we can paint the PVC to match the home’s color.
Why do my pipes gurgle?
There are a couple of possibilities:
- When the water table surrounding your home is high it may collect under your foundation/slab.
The radon fan is powerful and can pull water into the pipes. A sump pump can help. - The radon mitigation system can pull humidity from the basement and water can collect in the
pipes. A dehumidifier can help. - The pitch of the pipes may be wrong and not allowing water to run off properly. Call us for an
inspection.
What are the maintenance requirements after installation?
There is no maintenance with a radon mitigation system. There are just two ‘moving parts’ to a radon mitigation system – the fan (which has a 5-year warranty) and a manometer. The manometer is a u-shaped glass tube filled with a liquid (colored for easy reading) that measures pressure. The liquid levels of the manometer should not be level but offset. If they are level the system is not working and you should contact your installer. If the fan is not working you should contact your installer.