Evansville Basement Flooding Increases Allergies and Decreases Homeowner Satisfaction
Floods are a common challenge for homeowners in the Evansville area. Seasonally, we have to worry about the amount of water that will fill our basements, not "if" we will have flooding. According to floodsmart.gov, 80% of flood related claims from areas like ours, where the flood risk is common.
There are three ways that water enters our basements:
Groundwater: moisture pockets that come in through unsealed concrete slabs, form puddles, or just cause that wet basement feeling.- Precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet, and melted hail that leaks in to the basement either directly from windows and doors, or seeps into the ground and then into our basements.
- Hydrostatic pressure: Water-soaked soil that pushes moisture through walls and floors and produces a wet basement.
Wet, or even damp basements, are a source of allergens, those triggers that cause our watery eyes and itchy, runny noses, as well as our respiratory complaints like asthma. Allergens that thrive in damp spaces can be as invisible to the eye as microscopic dust mites, or mold spores, but they affect us in a big way.
The part of seasonal flooding that no one really speaks about, though, is how it makes us feel about our homes. Many homeowners in flood-prone areas dread the arrival of seasonal basement flooding. They have a large portion of their home that is not usable, requires constant maintenance and often saps more free time than the rest of the home. It's definitely depressing to shift furniture and find out what has molded, warped, or been ruined and then spend countless hours wet vac-ing in an attempt to save the rest. We have very little free time as it is, and I know that I would far rather spend it doing something less futile than fighting basement water intrusion.
There are solutions to this cyclical problem--basement waterproofing. Who you choose to do your waterproofing is as important as what you choose to waterproof with. Here's what to ask for when you interview and receive an estimate from a basement waterproofer:
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1. Is the estimate free?
It shouldn't cost you anything to find out how to repair your basement
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2. Is the estimator trained and certified?
You want to make sure that your estimator is not just a temporary worker hired during the flood season rush. A reputable company should give you a packet of information with specifics on the estimator who will be coming to your door.
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3. Do you offer guarantees and warranties? Are they nationally backed?
You want to make sure that any system you install has a warranty. In fact, you want to make sure that if the company is sold, or that you sell the house, that the warranty is transferable and honored by the company and it's national network
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4. Is the company established with a proven track record?
You want to chose a company that specializes in basement waterproofing and has been present and contributing to your community. There should be a good relationship between your basement waterproofer and the community in which you live.
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5. Do you offer annual maintenance?
A system can only perform well if it is maintained. You want to make sure that you aren't stuck performing the annual service yourself. The experts should offer annual maintenance by a trained repair technician.
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