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Steps on How to Maintain a Crawl Space at Home
Crawl spaces in residential properties are often neglected because they don’t offer much use for homeowners other than providing a space where electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC equipment can be safely routed across the length of a house. However, crawl spaces serve a more important purpose: to protect homes built in humid locations or wet ground. Builders create crawl spaces when the environment is too damp to support a basement. Crawl spaces are only about three feet high, but raising a house by this much off the ground keeps moisture away, preventing it from penetrating the structure and entering the main living space. Crawl spaces need proper maintenance. Otherwise, moisture can build up and cause several crawl space problems, primarily mold and household pests. Both can harm your family’s health, damage your crawl space and its load-bearing components, and weaken the structure of your home. Additionally, moisture in the area with your home’s electrical wirings is a fire and safety risk. It is, therefore, crucial to know how to maintain a crawl space and protect it from water damage. Here are five steps you can take to avoid crawl space problems: 1. Install a Vapor Barrier: Modern construction adds vapor barriers in crawl spaces to protect your entire house from water damage. This is called crawl space encapsulation . This solution uses vapor barriers – large, heavy-duty plastic sheets that cover every inch of exposed dirt. The sheets also go up the walls and supporting pillars of the crawl space. You can DIY the installation of vapor barriers. However, you must have the proper tools and materials to seal off every gap or edge between sheets. The vapor barrier must be completely seamless to effectively block water from the ground and keep it from entering the crawl space. 2.Seal All Crawl Space Access Points: Crawl spaces have windows or hatch doors for easy access. Like your house’s main doors and windows, these are vulnerable parts of your home envelope that you must seal completely. Use weatherstripping and sealants to cover all possible entry points for drafts and moisture. Old crawl space designs include vents that you can open or close seasonally. However, natural ventilation can increase moisture in your crawl space over time, giving rodents and insects more ways to enter your house. Besides, if you installed a vapor barrier, natural ventilation will no longer be necessary. 3.Inspect Your Crawl Space Regularly: One of the most essential steps on how to maintain a crawl space at home is to conduct regular inspections. Look for signs of water damage, like wet spots, condensation on metal surfaces, and discoloration and warping that could only be due to water. If you do find them, your next step should be locating the problem’s source or cause. Is there a tear in the vapor barrier? Is the heat from the HVAC system causing moisture to form on the nearby surfaces? Find a solution to these problems, and you’ll avoid the necessity of extensive crawl space restoration. 4.Insulate Pipes and Ducts: Temperature changes are inevitable as the seasons pass. The residual heat from your appliances and HVAC equipment can also cause humidity, which increases the water vapor inside your crawl space. Insulating the heating and cooling ducts running across your crawl space is one way to prevent this. Insulation blocks hot air from touching the cool surface of your AC ducts, for example, preventing condensation from forming on the surface. It also helps with the reverse, keeping the small space from getting too humid by blocking radiant heat from heat-generating pipes. Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Downspouts and Gutters: The chances of water entering your crawl space increase when your gutters are ineffective and the downspouts aren’t directing rainwater to the drains. Your yard can turn into a muddy swamp if the runoffs aren’t draining away from your house. Although it’s also important to ensure your yard’s drainage plan works, ensuring your gutter system is in excellent condition will be more cost-effective. Clean your gutters, remove blockages, replace damaged parts, make sure the fasteners are holding tight, and check if the angle of the downspout sends water cleanly into a nearby drainage system. Fix Crawl Space Problems with Professional Crawl Space Restoration If water damage still occurs despite your best efforts to learn how to maintain a crawl space and follow the best practices, there are professionals you can turn to for help. Restoration 1 of South Brooklyn is a trusted property restoration company that offers crawl space encapsulation and other relevant services like inspection, maintenance, and water damage repair. Our seasoned builders and construction professionals know all crawl space problems, discover their causes, and fix issues from the root. Moreover, our team is exceptional at crawl space restoration and will ensure your house bears no sign of water or mold damage. Contact Restoration 1 of South Brooklyn for more details about our services. You can also call if you have an urgent problem you’d rather entrust to a professional. RESOURCES Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
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What Are the Common Sump Pump Problems in the Winter?
Sump pumps are easily overlooked, but they are, in fact, one of your home’s first lines of defense against water damage during winter. Sump pump systems are low maintenance and designed to last for years with minimal maintenance and supervision. However, like most mechanical systems, sump pumps can become besieged with problems, especially in winter. The abundant snow, muddy surroundings, and freeze-thaw conditions can cause problems unique to this season. Knowing the most common sump pump problems in winter is vital for preventing them. This article discusses five sump pump problems homeowners must watch out for and tips for preventing them. Common Sump Pump Problems 1. Frozen Discharge Lines Frozen discharge lines are among the most prevalent sump pump problems in winter. A sump pump system is primarily contained in a tank or pit installed into the basement floor. Inside is an electricity-powered pump, a float switch that detects when it’s time to pump water out of the tank, a foundation drain line that collects water pooling around your house’s foundation, and a one-way discharge pipe that expels water farther away from your foundation. If water remains in the discharge pipe, it could freeze once the temperature drops. A frozen discharge line will be blocked, causing water from the sump tank to back up and flow over to your basement. If a lot of water is collected from the foundation drain, the overflow can flood your basement and damage your belongings and property. 2. Power Outage Modern sump pumps connect to a residence’s electrical lines instead of operating solely on batteries. It’s a welcome improvement as it saves homeowners the trouble of constantly checking their battery life and recharging and replacing the drained cells with fully charged ones. Unfortunately, power outages are common in winter, rendering sump pumps inoperable and leaving your basement at risk of flooding. 3.Pump Motor Failure There are many possible reasons for pump motors to fail in the middle of winter. It can be due to wear and tear, electrical malfunction, lack of maintenance, infrequent use in the months prior, or excessive use during winter. There could also be problems with certain parts of the pump. For example, if your sump pump has the traditional ball-on-wire float switch, it could get tangled or snag inside the tank and malfunction. The valve in the discharge pipe can malfunction and cause water to back up into the tank, flooding and overtaxing the motor. Any of these can cause a sump pump motor to break and stop operating optimally. The consequences would be an increased risk of basement flooding and severe water damage to your home. 4.Exceeded Capacity Sump pumps can get overworked in winter because melting snow increases the volume of the water your sump pump needs to expel. Heavy rains and continuous ice melt towards the end of winter can add to the problem, and your sump pump may have difficulty keeping up with the water infiltration. This puts extra stress on your sump pump, leading to rapid wear and total pump failure. 5. Clogged Intake Screens Sump pump tanks are wrapped with intake screens that filter the groundwater entering the water pit. It blocks large debris and limits the sediments entering the tank, keeping them from clogging and damaging the pump inside. However, the intake screen itself can also get clogged with infrequent cleaning. The screens can become caked entirely with debris, preventing the sump pump from effectively collecting water surrounding your house’s foundation. A clogged intake screen can hinder your sump pump’s performance and cause the ground around your house to constantly have a high moisture content, resulting in foundation damage over time. How to Prevent Sump Pump Problems in Winter Considering the problems discussed in the previous section, here are some best practices to help you avoid them and protect your home from water damage. 1.Regular Inspections: Annual inspections of your sump pump will bring to light any potential issues before they become full-blown problems. Check for signs of wear and cracking on the pipes and tubing and whether there’s too much sediment buildup inside the tank and on the intake screen. Of course, check if the pump works efficiently and can detect water levels quickly. 2.Regular Maintenance: Maintenance is equally essential because it ensures all components are fully functioning and in excellent condition. The entire system can malfunction if just one part is worn out or broken. When done in conjunction with annual inspections, you won’t be spending much for maintenance anymore because issues will be fixed before they become big, expensive problems. 3.Regular Cleaning and Lubrication: Cleaning should be part of your maintenance routine for your sump pump. It may require opening the sump tank, which is best entrusted to experienced technicians. To be safe, call on professionals offering a sump pump cleaning service. 4.Backup Power: Most sump pump installations have improved from battery-operated to connected directly to the house’s main electrical line. However, we recommend keeping a backup battery so your sump pump can remain operational despite power outages. 5.Install Insulation for the Drain and Discharge Lines: The foundation drain and discharge pipes are exposed to the outdoors, hence the tendency of the water inside to freeze. Insulating these pipes can help prevent freezing and other problems that come with it. If All Fails, Call a Sump Pump Cleaning Service No mechanical system is immune to damage; you expect to encounter sump pump problems at some point. If a flood occurs or if your home sustains water damage due to a malfunctioning sump pump, call Restoration 1 of South Brooklyn. We offer professional sump pump cleaning services by certified technicians who hold the highest certification in our industry. Our team thoroughly evaluates and documents the problems they fix, covering all bases so you won’t have to be bothered by a flooded basement or foundation issues again. Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
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Steps on How to Maintain a Crawl Space at Home
Crawl spaces in residential properties are often neglected because they don’t offer much use for homeowners other than providing a space where electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC equipment can be safely routed across the length of a house. However, crawl spaces serve a more important purpose: to protect homes built in humid locations or wet ground. Builders create crawl spaces when the environment is too damp to support a basement. Crawl spaces are only about three feet high, but raising a house by this much off the ground keeps moisture away, preventing it from penetrating the structure and entering the main living space. Crawl spaces need proper maintenance. Otherwise, moisture can build up and cause several crawl space problems, primarily mold and household pests. Both can harm your family’s health, damage your crawl space and its load-bearing components, and weaken the structure of your home. Additionally, moisture in the area with your home’s electrical wirings is a fire and safety risk. It is, therefore, crucial to know how to maintain a crawl space and protect it from water damage. Here are five steps you can take to avoid crawl space problems: 1. Install a Vapor Barrier: Modern construction adds vapor barriers in crawl spaces to protect your entire house from water damage. This is called crawl space encapsulation . This solution uses vapor barriers – large, heavy-duty plastic sheets that cover every inch of exposed dirt. The sheets also go up the walls and supporting pillars of the crawl space. You can DIY the installation of vapor barriers. However, you must have the proper tools and materials to seal off every gap or edge between sheets. The vapor barrier must be completely seamless to effectively block water from the ground and keep it from entering the crawl space. 2.Seal All Crawl Space Access Points: Crawl spaces have windows or hatch doors for easy access. Like your house’s main doors and windows, these are vulnerable parts of your home envelope that you must seal completely. Use weatherstripping and sealants to cover all possible entry points for drafts and moisture. Old crawl space designs include vents that you can open or close seasonally. However, natural ventilation can increase moisture in your crawl space over time, giving rodents and insects more ways to enter your house. Besides, if you installed a vapor barrier, natural ventilation will no longer be necessary. 3.Inspect Your Crawl Space Regularly: One of the most essential steps on how to maintain a crawl space at home is to conduct regular inspections. Look for signs of water damage, like wet spots, condensation on metal surfaces, and discoloration and warping that could only be due to water. If you do find them, your next step should be locating the problem’s source or cause. Is there a tear in the vapor barrier? Is the heat from the HVAC system causing moisture to form on the nearby surfaces? Find a solution to these problems, and you’ll avoid the necessity of extensive crawl space restoration. 4.Insulate Pipes and Ducts: Temperature changes are inevitable as the seasons pass. The residual heat from your appliances and HVAC equipment can also cause humidity, which increases the water vapor inside your crawl space. Insulating the heating and cooling ducts running across your crawl space is one way to prevent this. Insulation blocks hot air from touching the cool surface of your AC ducts, for example, preventing condensation from forming on the surface. It also helps with the reverse, keeping the small space from getting too humid by blocking radiant heat from heat-generating pipes. Regularly Inspect and Maintain Your Downspouts and Gutters: The chances of water entering your crawl space increase when your gutters are ineffective and the downspouts aren’t directing rainwater to the drains. Your yard can turn into a muddy swamp if the runoffs aren’t draining away from your house. Although it’s also important to ensure your yard’s drainage plan works, ensuring your gutter system is in excellent condition will be more cost-effective. Clean your gutters, remove blockages, replace damaged parts, make sure the fasteners are holding tight, and check if the angle of the downspout sends water cleanly into a nearby drainage system. Fix Crawl Space Problems with Professional Crawl Space Restoration If water damage still occurs despite your best efforts to learn how to maintain a crawl space and follow the best practices, there are professionals you can turn to for help. Restoration 1 of South Brooklyn is a trusted property restoration company that offers crawl space encapsulation and other relevant services like inspection, maintenance, and water damage repair. Our seasoned builders and construction professionals know all crawl space problems, discover their causes, and fix issues from the root. Moreover, our team is exceptional at crawl space restoration and will ensure your house bears no sign of water or mold damage. Contact Restoration 1 of South Brooklyn for more details about our services. You can also call if you have an urgent problem you’d rather entrust to a professional. RESOURCES Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
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What Are the Common Sump Pump Problems in the Winter?
Sump pumps are easily overlooked, but they are, in fact, one of your home’s first lines of defense against water damage during winter. Sump pump systems are low maintenance and designed to last for years with minimal maintenance and supervision. However, like most mechanical systems, sump pumps can become besieged with problems, especially in winter. The abundant snow, muddy surroundings, and freeze-thaw conditions can cause problems unique to this season. Knowing the most common sump pump problems in winter is vital for preventing them. This article discusses five sump pump problems homeowners must watch out for and tips for preventing them. Common Sump Pump Problems 1. Frozen Discharge Lines Frozen discharge lines are among the most prevalent sump pump problems in winter. A sump pump system is primarily contained in a tank or pit installed into the basement floor. Inside is an electricity-powered pump, a float switch that detects when it’s time to pump water out of the tank, a foundation drain line that collects water pooling around your house’s foundation, and a one-way discharge pipe that expels water farther away from your foundation. If water remains in the discharge pipe, it could freeze once the temperature drops. A frozen discharge line will be blocked, causing water from the sump tank to back up and flow over to your basement. If a lot of water is collected from the foundation drain, the overflow can flood your basement and damage your belongings and property. 2. Power Outage Modern sump pumps connect to a residence’s electrical lines instead of operating solely on batteries. It’s a welcome improvement as it saves homeowners the trouble of constantly checking their battery life and recharging and replacing the drained cells with fully charged ones. Unfortunately, power outages are common in winter, rendering sump pumps inoperable and leaving your basement at risk of flooding. 3.Pump Motor Failure There are many possible reasons for pump motors to fail in the middle of winter. It can be due to wear and tear, electrical malfunction, lack of maintenance, infrequent use in the months prior, or excessive use during winter. There could also be problems with certain parts of the pump. For example, if your sump pump has the traditional ball-on-wire float switch, it could get tangled or snag inside the tank and malfunction. The valve in the discharge pipe can malfunction and cause water to back up into the tank, flooding and overtaxing the motor. Any of these can cause a sump pump motor to break and stop operating optimally. The consequences would be an increased risk of basement flooding and severe water damage to your home. 4.Exceeded Capacity Sump pumps can get overworked in winter because melting snow increases the volume of the water your sump pump needs to expel. Heavy rains and continuous ice melt towards the end of winter can add to the problem, and your sump pump may have difficulty keeping up with the water infiltration. This puts extra stress on your sump pump, leading to rapid wear and total pump failure. 5. Clogged Intake Screens Sump pump tanks are wrapped with intake screens that filter the groundwater entering the water pit. It blocks large debris and limits the sediments entering the tank, keeping them from clogging and damaging the pump inside. However, the intake screen itself can also get clogged with infrequent cleaning. The screens can become caked entirely with debris, preventing the sump pump from effectively collecting water surrounding your house’s foundation. A clogged intake screen can hinder your sump pump’s performance and cause the ground around your house to constantly have a high moisture content, resulting in foundation damage over time. How to Prevent Sump Pump Problems in Winter Considering the problems discussed in the previous section, here are some best practices to help you avoid them and protect your home from water damage. 1.Regular Inspections: Annual inspections of your sump pump will bring to light any potential issues before they become full-blown problems. Check for signs of wear and cracking on the pipes and tubing and whether there’s too much sediment buildup inside the tank and on the intake screen. Of course, check if the pump works efficiently and can detect water levels quickly. 2.Regular Maintenance: Maintenance is equally essential because it ensures all components are fully functioning and in excellent condition. The entire system can malfunction if just one part is worn out or broken. When done in conjunction with annual inspections, you won’t be spending much for maintenance anymore because issues will be fixed before they become big, expensive problems. 3.Regular Cleaning and Lubrication: Cleaning should be part of your maintenance routine for your sump pump. It may require opening the sump tank, which is best entrusted to experienced technicians. To be safe, call on professionals offering a sump pump cleaning service. 4.Backup Power: Most sump pump installations have improved from battery-operated to connected directly to the house’s main electrical line. However, we recommend keeping a backup battery so your sump pump can remain operational despite power outages. 5.Install Insulation for the Drain and Discharge Lines: The foundation drain and discharge pipes are exposed to the outdoors, hence the tendency of the water inside to freeze. Insulating these pipes can help prevent freezing and other problems that come with it. If All Fails, Call a Sump Pump Cleaning Service No mechanical system is immune to damage; you expect to encounter sump pump problems at some point. If a flood occurs or if your home sustains water damage due to a malfunctioning sump pump, call Restoration 1 of South Brooklyn. We offer professional sump pump cleaning services by certified technicians who hold the highest certification in our industry. Our team thoroughly evaluates and documents the problems they fix, covering all bases so you won’t have to be bothered by a flooded basement or foundation issues again. Don't Get Stuck With Damaged Property Fill in your details, we'll contact you right back. First Name** I consent to receive text messages from this business. Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
