Your Dirt Crawl Space is Costing You Money!

It costs more to heat and cool a home with a dirt crawl space. If the crawl space is vented, this causes the floors to be cold upstairs which leads to spiking heating costs. The damp air in the crawl space rises. It takes a lot of energy to heat and cool damp air and definitely puts more of a stress on an HVAC system.

Studies have shown (one specifically through Advanced Energy) that you can save up to 15-20% if humidity is eliminated from your crawl space and home. Variables include how many stories your house is, if you have ducts in the crawl space, how big the crawl space is, etc.

Some crawl spaces have insulation in the floor above. This is mainly because the vents allow so much cold air in the winter that the floor needs insulation. Since insulation contains organic materials in the resin used to set the fibers, it is a prime breeding ground for mold. Even if it gets just a bit damp, the insulation loses all purpose. Heavy moisture burdened insulation hanging down from the sealing is a common sight in dirt crawl spaces.

In order to control the moisture in your crawl space, sealing up the crawl space vents is the first step. Secondly, separate the crawl space from the earth using a heavy puncture proof material like CleanSpace. This keep moisture and rot at bay. Finally use an energy efficient heavy duty dehumidifier (like the SaniDry) that will circulate the air and remove the humidity.

Taking these steps will bring you results that will make you wish you knew about the systems sooner. Odor removal, energy savings, and extra storage space make this project worthwhile.

Finding a Responsible Basement Waterproofing Contractor

Finding a competent, ethical and responsible contractor IS possible. Avoid a horror story by doing some simple research, using common sense, and educating yourself about the job at hand before you write that check.

1. Look for a contractor with an established business - This does not mean that someone with a new business won't do a beautiful job, ask about experience and training before you proceed.
2. Check references by phone and look at previous jobs if possible. It's great to be able to talk to someone who has worked with the contractor before.
3. Ask about professional associations that the contractor is involved with such as NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), or NAWSRC (National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors).
4. Make sure the contractor has General Liability Insurance and Worker's Compensation. You can get a copy of their documentation if you call the carrier - this is public information and the carrier should be happy to provide them for you.
5. Make sure that you get a proposal or copy of the work to be done in writing. Do not go on a handshake, word, or promise.
6. Ask about training on the products the company uses and the manufacturer of the goods.
7. Make sure you are clear on what is warranted and what is not covered.

Being prepared for your project is half of the battle. Your experience will go much smoother if you've done your research and communication with your contractor is open. Make sure you understand the work to be done and that you possess a written copy of the plans. You'll be on your way to a dry basement and peace of mind.

You Breathe Basement Air!

Do you or someone in your family suffer from asthma or allergies? Your basement could be contributing to allergy symptoms or even causing asthma in some cases.

A "stack effect" exchange of air occurs in your home. This means that new air replaces the warm air that rises and escapes out of the upper levels by a process of suction. Air from your basement is drawn up into the first floor, then to the second. Scientists say that up to 50% of the air you breathe on the first floor comes from the basement.

This means that whatever is in your basement air - this includes mold, rot, dust mites - you and your family are breathing it. The damp odors in your basement will rise up into the 1st floor and so on.

Effects of a Wet or Damp Basement:

-Dust Mites
-Sticking doors and windows
-Smelly damp carpets
-Buckling hardwood floors
-Condensation/rotting/mold in attic
-Frost or condensation and mold on inside of windows in cool weather
-Increased cooling bills (damp air takes more energy to cool)
-Increased heating bills (damp air takes more energy to heat)
-Mold upstairs
-Decreased life of roof or sheathing and shingles
-Decreased life of the paint on the outside of your house
-Aggrivated asthma and allergies

#1 Home Allergen: Dust mite droppings floating in the air. Dust mites are parasites that live in your carpeting, bedding, and furniture. Dust mites absorb water out of the air, so with high humidity levels (especially in the basement) they thrive. If humidity levels drop below 50%, they will dry up and die, but leave their larvae behind to hatch when it gets damp again. Combat this dangerous life cycle by keeping your basement at a humidity level under 50% with a quality dehumidifier. For more information on the dangers of toxins in your basement, read this article.

The Problem That Won't Go Away

In speaking with thousands of homeowners over the course of a year, it's clear that the majority have some sort of basement moisture problem ranging from dampness to flooding. The truth is that any type of moisture in the basement is a problem. And it's not going to disappear merely by forgetting about it.
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To protect the innocent, we've changed the names of the folks in our story:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith's basement flooded once. They cleaned the gutters just like their cousin told them to. After all, he was a builder and he knew about these things. The couple didn't see any more water in their basement for a good six months. They soon forgot about the incident and put all of their stuff back down in the basement on the floor. There were holiday decorations, tax records, a record album collection, personal effects - even Mrs. Smith's preserved wedding dress - in a cardboard box like most of the other items. Beginning one otherwise peaceful evening, the sky opened up, as it does once every year or two, and two months worth of rain fell in two days. All of the Smith's belongings were lost in the flood that resulted in the unprotected basement.
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It doesn't have to be a severe flood to experience the effects of water damage. Mold thrives on organic material so if you've got a high relative humidity or seepage, all of those personal items stored in boxes in the basement run the risk of being ruined. At the first sign of a problem it is important to begin the fixing process. Basement leaks do not get better, they worsen with time.

Fixing the gutters and downspouts is the first step, but not the permanent fix. For moisture, a quality dehumidifier will help alleviate mold and musty odors. SaniDry basement dehumidifier will do the trick, it's like a dehumidifier on steroids! For foot and wall joint leaks or even floor seepage, a custom interior basement waterproofing system will solve the issue. WaterGuard, a patented system, is designed to accept wall, floor, and foot and wall joint leaks without getting clogged with dirt and debris. This is a much better solution than excavating the exterior and installing a new footing drain that will eventually clog up again. Paints or sealants are only a temporary solution and eventually the water will push through.

At the first sign of water in your basement, call a system design specialist so that you can avoid the mess the Smiths had to deal with.