Helpful do it yourself basement tips from The Basement Doctor

Do you have a basement emergency or looking to prevent one? If so we have some great tips to help you! While not all basement projects are for the do-it yourselfers, some problems can be prevented or remedied by you!

Our project managers are always available to answer any questions or problems you might be facing with free, no-pressure appointments. With over 22 years of basement and crawl space experience, our goal is to give you a drier, cleaner, healthier, economical, more energy efficient home.  

Simple Preventative Measures

• Correct drainage
  • Ensure roof water disperses properly
  • Run discharge lines to storm sewer (code in many areas)
  • No negative grades (aka the ground shouldn't slope towards your home!) 
• Openings for water intrusion
  • Window wells should be sealed and free of debris like leaves, trash and sticks
  • Door 'trench' floor drains should flow freely
• About the sump pump 
  • Should have the correct pumping capacity for your home
  • Should be checked by our service department once per year - we service all brands of waterproofing
  • Sump pit should have a secure cover to keep out kids, their toys and pets
• Install a dependable battery back-up for the sump pump
  • All brands are NOT equal
  • Our UltraSumps have a state of the art charging system + high pumping capacity
• Don't waste money on consumer grade dehumidifiers
  • Too expensive
  • Energy efficiency is sub-standard
  • Use the Basement Doctor's SaniDry professional grade dehumidifier and air filtration miracle machine
    • 4 times the water removal of consumer grade dehumidifiers
    • Filters your home's air
    • Can connect to your home's HVAC system
    • It's like a dehumidifier on steriods

Basement Flooding

• Call your insurance company - there will probably be a deductible
• Use a reputable company which has trained, experienced emergency services techs ready
• If there is a pipe break, turn off water supply (if possible)
• If sewage is involved call us asap, do not try to clean it yourself
• Dry out basement within 48 hours to reduce the risk of mold
  • Extract (remove) water
  • Remove contaminated contents
  • Place air movers in affected areas
  • Don't return contents until they are verified mold free
  • Test air if there is a musty smell
• Mold Concerns
  • Can cause many allergy problems
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Cancer
  • Very destructive to the contents and structural integrity of your home
  • Bleach does not kill mold

Mold

• Mold grows when three factors combine
  • Water (or excessive moisture)
  • Organic material (clothes, drywall, wood - even paint) is present
  • Mold spores (usually always present)
• If you suspect a mold problem the first step is an inspection from a reputable company
• Mold clean-up
  • Remove moisture from material being repaired
  • Isolate area being repaired
• Mold sampling
  • Perform preclean-up testing
  • Again, perform after clean-up testing
• Helpful mold tips
  • If area is less than 10 square feet (length times width), you might be able to clean it yourself
  • If area is larger than 10 square feet, call us
  • Don't use bleach! It's 99% water, loses potency from the moment it's manufactured, and may make things worse! Bleach often removes the color of the mold, but doesn't always kill the spores.

Household Notes

• Digitally back-up important documents and photos, keep a copy off-site
• Call us if sewage is involved
• Wear protective clothing
• Waiting makes it worse
• Check your insurance policy for flood coverage before you have a problem
• Again, don't use bleach on mold
• Know when to call the pros! 
• We're available 24/7!