Wet Bloomingdale, MI Basement Receives a Full Waterproofing System
Challenge
This homeowner called because she wanted to deal with the moisture issue in her basement that had been going on for 20 years. The basement is partially finished and has both block and stone foundation walls. During times of heavy rainfall, water was entering the home through the walls, creating high humidity levels and damage to the home. The homeowner wanted a basement that she could make use of, so it was time to permanently fix this problem once and for all.
Solution
To fully waterproof this basement, there were several important steps we took to give this homeowner the basement she wants and needs. To begin this project, we had to remove parts of the flooring along the perimeter of the basement to install the WaterGuard system. After removing the concrete, we placed the specialized WaterGuard pipe into the trench, slightly away from the wall to ensure water coming in had room to filter directly into the pipes. The system was then covered with crushed stone and concrete to restore the basement floor. Any water coming into the system is immediately carried to the sump pump to be discharged from the home. A WaterGuard Inspection Port was also installed in this overall system which allows us to easily access the system if needed.
To prevent water from entering the home through a doorway, we installed a TrenchDrain. This drain has large openings in it that allows water from the floor to easily enter and drain into the WaterGuard system and then empty into the Sump Pump.
The stone walls in this basement were certainly letting a large amount of water into the home, but often times it can be hard to find wall paneling that will improve the look of the basement without becoming damaged from the water coming in through the wall. Therefore, the CleanSpace Wall System was the ideal solution for this homeowner. CleanSpace is both water and vapor proof that will prevent moisture from entering the home by draining any incoming water directly into the WaterGuard system. Mold, mildew, or rot will never be an issue with this wall paneling because it is made from inorganic materials and has an anti-microbial additive.
An efficient and effective sump pump is extremely important for this home, so we installed the TripleSafe sump pump system. This system has three pumps in one liner to ensure the home is always protected. The first pump will do most of the work and is a cast-iron Zoeller that is set low in the liner. The second pump is placed slightly higher in the liner and will turn on if the first pump is unable to keep up. The final pump is a battery backup pump called UltraSump that is placed at the top of the liner. This system will continue to pump water even if the home experiences a power outage.
Collecting water in the home is one job, but making sure it efficiently exits the home is just as important. We installed the IceGuard system that is attached to the discharge lines in the home to make sure water can exit even if the pipes are frozen. It is common for pipes to freeze during the cold winter months, which can prevent water from exiting the sump pump and instead allows it to re-enter the home. The holes in the IceGuard system help water immediately exit the discharge lines even if the pipe is frozen. Next, we needed to make sure any water leaving the discharge lines is taken far away from the home. We installed the LawnScape outlet which was placed out away from the home to lead water away and prevent it from accumulating by the property.
The final step to creating a dry basement is to eliminate any moisture in the air through an effective dehumidifier. To do this we installed the SaniDry Upright, which is a dehumidification system that wrings moisture out of the air and in turn blows filtered, dry air throughout the space. Any water collected through this system is directed to the sump pump so you never have to empty a bucket.
Project Summary
Project Foreman: Electrician-Larry Hall
Products Installed: WaterGuard, WaterGuard Inspection Port, TrenchDrain, CleanSpace Wall System, TripleSafe, IceGuard, LawnScape Outlet, SaniDry Upright
