Common sources of Moisture in the Home

Excess moisture in a home can weaken a home's structure, damage personal belongings, cause unpleasant odors and reduce air quality. A high level of moisture can cause mold growth which can lead to bacteria, cockroaches and dust mites. This excess moisture can also cause the rotting of a home's foundation and be the origin of asthma and allergies in the home's inhabitants.

Moisture can originate from a number of outdoor sources as well as from the activities of those living in the home. Shown in the picture is the EZ BREATHE ventilation system. This can help in the reduction of odors, smells, and reduce humidity in the home as well as the crawl space.

Some outdoor sources include:

• Foundation drainage
• Below-grade walls
• Blocked exterior air circulation
• Water seepage through foundation brick and block to the crawl space or basement

Indoor sources include:

• Moisture from the crawl space
• Domestic activities
• Appliances
• House plants
• Air conditioners
• Damp basements

Excess moisture within a home is not a hard problem to diagnose. There are numerous symptoms that can indicate that there is a high level of moisture within your home. These include:

• Odors: higher humidity leads to the increase in indoor smells. Musty odors can be caused by mold, mildew and rot.
• Frost and ice on cold surfaces
• Damp feeling within the home
• Surface discoloration, staining and texture changing
• Deformed wood surfaces and wood decay
• Sweating pipes
• Peeling paint
• Chipping concrete
• Increased indoor humidity
• Rust

It is important to diagnose excess moisture problems early to prevent further damage. Call us to perform a free inspection of your home if you think you have any of these warning signs.

Sump Pumps

All dirt and vented crawl spaces can benefit greatly from encapsulation with the CleanSpace System, but if there is an existing water problem it needs to be dealt with before a homeowner can seal their crawl space. The core of this system is a sump pump, but only one that is designed specially for use with crawl spaces and the CleanSpace system.

There are plenty of horror stories of failing sump pumps, but choosing the right sump equipment can keep the space beneath your home free of water. The wrong sump pump, however, could make it you telling the story of how your sump failed when you needed it.

Ameri Care Services uses pumps manufactured and designed by Basement Systems and has developed the SmartSump to fill just that role. The pump itself is a high quality, 1/3rd horsepower Zoeller sump pump, but it is only one element in this carefully designed system.

The Sump Liner
If a sump pump is in a dirt-lined hole it will quickly clog and cease protecting your crawl space. The remedy for this is a sump liner, but only one that is the right size for the pump. A liner that is too small, for example, could cause a pump to “short cycle,” or turn on and off quickly because there is too little water for it to pump. A well-built liner that is the right size for the pump is the best solution.

Pump Stand
A well designed pump stand will keep the pump elevated and away from silt or debris that does get into the sump liner. This not only prevents clogging or damage to the pump, but also helps keep the check valve clear so pumping capacity won’t be reduced over time by buildup in the discharge pipe.

Air-Tight Sump Lid with Floor Drain
Since one of the main purposes of encapsulating your crawl space is to isolate it from the moisture below, an open sump basin would be counterproductive. Without this lid, not only would there be a hole in your system but any water that did get into the sump would evaporate up into your home. An air-tight lid not only solves this problem, but it stops things from fall into and clogging the pump while making the whole installation look clean and professional.

Sometimes, though, water from below your home isn’t the worry. Without any way to get water out of your newly encapsulated crawl space, a plumbing leak could fill it like a swimming pool! The solution to this is a one way, air-tight valve in the sump lid so that any water that gets down there can drain away.

Pump Alarm
Another necessity is a battery powered alarm that warns you if you have a inside leak. Because most crawl spaces are visited infrequently, it is possible to have a plumbing leak for years and not know it. The SmartSump comes standard with our WaterWatch Alarm that will warn you if there is a problem.

Lifetime Warranty
Pump manufacturers do not offer lifetime warranties. There are contractors who put “Lifetime Warranty!” or “Free Pump replacements forever!” on all their advertising. Thinking down the line reveals a problem with this: the only way you’ll know to call them for a replacement is after the pump has failed and your crawl space is full of water.

Dry Already?
If a crawl space does not require a pump to deal with pre-existing water problems, there still needs to be a way to drain water in case of a plumbing leak. The SmartDrain combines the features of the SmartSump – the WaterWatch Alarm and air-tight lid with one-way floor drain – while letting water seep away into the soil. With this system the WaterWatch alarm will let you know if you have a leak without you finding your crawl space full of water!

Bigger Problems
At the other end of the spectrum, a crawl space that has serious water problems will need more than a SmartSump. A pump with increased pumping capacity and extra redundancy is necessary to do the best job keeping your crawl space dry. The TripleSafe is just such a system.

As the name implies, the TripleSafe actually has three pumps:

1.A primary pump.
2.A secondary pump that will switch on if the primary pump fails or can’t keep up with the volume of water.
3.A battery powered backup pump in case the power goes out – which often happens during big rain storms!
For more details on the TripleSafe, SmartSump or SmartDrain, visit the Basement Systems website.