Category Archives: water proofing

Sump Pump French Drains Flood Basement

Sump Pump : Installing

If water continues to accumulate in your basement despite all your efforts at regrading and sealing your basement walls, installing a sump pump may be your inly option for resolving the problem . Permanently located in a pit that you dig beneath your basement floor, the sump pump automatically kicks in whenever enough water water accumulates in the pit to trigger the pump float. The water is then pumped out the basement through a pipe that runs through the rim joist of the house .

Because you will be digging well beneath the basement floor, make certain there is no sewer pipe or water supply in the digging area . Contact a plumber if you do not know for sure that the area is clear.

The purpose of a sump pump is to collect and eject water that accumulates beneath your basement floor ( usually due to a high water table ) before it can be drawn or forced up into the basement . The most effective sump installation have drain tile running around the entire perimeter of the house and channeling water to the pump pit. This system can be created as a retrofit job, but it is a major undertaking best left to a pro .

A submersible sump pump installed in a pit beneath a basement floor to [ump water out before it seeps up into the basement .

Install the pit liner after digging a hole for ti in the granular material under the floor . The hole should be a few inches wider than the liner . Remove the excavated material right away . Add gravel to the bottom of the hole as needed to bring the liner level with top of its rim at floor level.

Pack the liner in place by pouring 1/2 inch gravel around it. Add a 1 inch base of gravel and then mix concrete to patch the floor . Trowel the concrete around the rim with a float so the patch is level and smooth.

Prepare the sump sump installation . Thread a PVC adapter fitting onto the pump outlet , and then solvent glue a PVC stand pipe ti the adapter . the stand pipe should be long enough to extend about 1 foot past the liner rim rim liner rim when the pump is set on the bottom of the liner .

Attach a check valve to the top of the stand pipe to prevent the pump pit . Solvent weld another riser to fit into the top of the check valve and run upward to a point level with the rim joist, where the discharge tube will exit the basement .

Drill a hole in the rim joist for the discharge tube and finish routing drain pipe out through the rim joist.. Caulk around the tube on both the interior and exterior sides. On the exterior , attach an elbow fitting to the discharge tube and run drain pipe down from the elbow. Place a splash block beneath the drain pipe to direct water away from the house . Plug the pump in a GFCI-protected receptacle .

Things you may need also is to dry lock basement walls for leaks especially in July less of a water table. Regrade french drains and dirt outside dig trench ten feet away outside and dig a trash can size hole. Than place another receptacle with perforated holes and gravel place around , and let the water run off and away. 100 percent do the trick . Call topjobrestoration.com for any answers.

French Drains Proper Drainage Solution Regrade Property

Drainage Solution : How to Regrade

Establish the drainage slope. The yard around your house should slant away from the house at a minimum slope 3/4 inch per ft for at least 10 ft . Till the soil or add new soil around the house perimeter. Drive a wood stake next to the house and another 10 ft out. Tie a level mason’s string between the stakes, and then move the string down at least 2 1/2 inches at the end away from the house , establishing your minimum slope.

Redistribute the soil with a steel garden rake so the grade follows the slope line. Add top soil at the high end if needed. Do not excavate bear the end of the slope accommodate the grade. The goal is to build up the yard to create runoff.

Use a grading rake to smooth out the soil so it slopes at an even rate . Drive additional stakes and tie off slope lines as necessary.

Tamp the soil with a hard tamper or plate compactor . Fill in any dips that occur with fresh dirt . Lay sod or plant grass or cover immediately.

Drainage solution : How to install a dry well

A dry well is a simple way to channel excess water out low lying or water laden areas , such as the ground beneath a gutter downspout . Dry well system typically consists of a buried drain tile running from a catch basin positioned at the problem spot to a collection container some distance away .

A dry well system is easy to install and surprisingly inexpensive . In the project shown here, a perforated plastic drain tile carries water from a plastic trash ca that has been punctured , then filled with stone rubble. The run off water percolates into the soil as it makes its way along the drain pipe and through the dry well.

The how to steps of this project include digging the trench with a shovel . If the catch basin is a long distance from the from the problem area, you may want to rent a trencher to dig the trench quickly. Call local utility companies to mark the location of underground mechanics before you start to dig .

Set a length of perforated drain tile on the gravel running the full length of the trench. If the trench starts at a downspouts , position a grated catch basin directly beneath the downspout and attach the end of the drain tile to the outlet port .

Dig a trench ( 10 inches , 14 inches deep) from the area where the water collects to the catch basin location , sloping the trench 2 inch per 8 foot . Line the trench with landscape fabric add 1 inch layer of gravel on top of the fabric .

Install the dry well by digging a hole that’s big enough to hold a plastic trash can . Drill 1 inch holes through the sides and bottom of the can every 4 inches to 6 inches . Also cut an access hole at the top of the can for the drain tile . Set the can in the hole and insert the free end of the tile . Backfill dirt over the tile and trench and plant grass or cover with sod.

Basements : Wet Walls Water Proofing Water Damage

Basement moisture can destroy your efforts to create functional living space . Over time , even small amounts of moisture can rot framing, turn wallboard to mush, and promote the growth of mold and mildew. Before proceeding with your basement project , you must deal with any moisture issues . The good news is that moisture problems can be resolved , often very easily .

Basement moisture appears in two forms :
condensation and seepage . Condensation comes form air borne water vapor that turns to water when it contacts cold surfaces. Vapor sources include humid outdoor air, poorly ventilated appliances , damp walls , and water released from the concrete . Seepage is water that enters the basements by infiltrating cracks in the foundation or by leeching through masonry , which is naturally porous . Often caused by ineffective exterior drainage, seepage comes from rain or ground water that collects around the foundation from a rising water table.

If you have a wet basement , you will see evidence of moisture problems . Typical signs include peeling paint, white residue on masonry ( called efflorescence ) which is big determination of red flag for basement water damage needs drying, and water proofing, mildew stains , sweaty windows and pipes , rusted appliance feet , rotted wood near th floor, buckled floor tile and strong mildew odor.

To reduce condensation , run high capacity dehumidifier in the basement . Insulate cold water pipes to prevent condensate drippage, and make sure you dryer and other appliances have vents running to the outside . Extending central air conditioning service to the basement can help reduce vapor during warm , humid months .

Crawl spaces can also promote condensation , as warm moist enters through vents and meets cooler interior air. Crawlspace ventilation is a source of ongoing debate, and there’s no universal method that applies to all climates . It’s best to ask the local building department for advice on this matter.

Solutions for prevent seepage range from the simple do0 it your self projects to expensive, professional jobs requiring excavation and foundation work. Since it’s often difficult to determine the source of seeping water, it makes sense to try some common cures before calling in professional help. If the simple measures outlined here don’t correct your moistures problems , you must consider more extensive action. Serious Water problems are typically handled by installing footing drains or sump pump systems. Footing drains are installed around the foundation’s perimeter , near the footing and they drain out to a distant area of the yard. These usually work in conjunction with waterproofing coatings on the exterior side of the foundations walls. Sump systems use an interior under slab drain pipe to collect water is ejected outside by an electric sump pump .

Installing a new drainage system is expensive and must be done properly . Adding a sump pump system involves breaking up the concrete floor along the basement’s perimeter , digging a trench , and laying a perforated drain pipe in a bed of gravel. After the sump pit is installed , the floor is patched with new concrete . Installing a footing drain is far more more complicated . This involves digging out the foundation , installing gravel and drainpipe and water proofing the foundation walls . A footing is considered a last resort measure . next blog will show preventions of water going away from house and drains properly placed .

Plumbing and Sewer Line Pipes Installs

Plumbing problems can create considerable damage such as drywall , waterproofing , and pipes that need to tie into at the sewer lines. While some do-it-yourselfers enjoy the challenge of fixing even the toughest problems , many homeowner would rather leave the dirty work to a professional plumbing company. Before calling for help , you should know some basic plumbing concepts and problems.

Shutting off the water for winterize or emergency

Shutting the water is an important action to take in an emergency. Most homes have a main water shutoff valve located next to the water meter that can be used to stop water flow to the house . All family members should know the valve’s location and how to use it . It should should also be periodically checked to ensure proper function. Most plumbers fixtures have individual shutoff valves located in their supply lines .

Plumbing Problems Common Issues

Drain cleaning. Depending on the cause and location of a clog, drain cleaning may or may not be effective. Additionally , because clogs in multiple places can contribute to the problem , successful clearing one problem spot might not solve all of your long-term plumbing problems.

Toilet clogs Toilet clogs can often be cleared with a toilet plunger . If, however , the clog is too difficult to remove with a plunger , plumbers can use special tools special tools called augers, or snakes. Snakes are long ,flexible spring-like tools that are inserted into the clogged drain and rotated to manually break break up the clog.

Grease clogs. Grease clogs may represent a more difficult problem . Grease clogs usually occur in the two-inch drain pipe connecting the kitchen sink to the main four inch drainpipe that handles toilet waste and leads to the sewer. Because the washing machine pump forces water into the same two-inch drainpipe , a grease clog is commonly misdiagnosed as as a clogged washing machine drain line. Because grease naturally sticks to the walls of drain lines, it is relatively difficult to remove.

in some cases , the most economical feasible alternative is to replace the two-inch drain line. However , because of the high cost of replacing the line, the first attempt at alleviating the problem is to use a plumber’s snake to punch a hole through the grease as possible . Because this repair cannot remove all the grease as possible. Because the repair cannot remove all the grease , in time drain repeatedly re-clogs . If the same drain repeatedly clogs, you may need to replace the line.

Clogs in the main main sewer line .
Broken seal, joints , or pipe sections are the primary causes of most sewer line clogs . These breaks allow tree roots to penetrate and grow in the line, gradually blocking the flow of water and waste. The only way to remove all the roots from the line is to replace it, which is very expensive . In many cases, enough of the roots can be cut from the inside of the line with a sewer machine to open up the flow . Unfortunately because damaged roots an grow back in a fertile environment the line often ends up re-clogging . Furthermore , because some partially cut roots tend to shift position over time , the line may re-clog quickly.

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