Tuesday, November 15, 2011

As we slowly turn the page from one season to the next we frequently are asked a question as to whether we are able to waterproof basements during the winter. The answer to that questions is YES! The winter is a great time to get your basement waterproofed. Beat the spring rains that often create a mad flood of people looking to waterproof their basement by having your basement waterproofed during the winter! You will be glad you got it done before the spring rains and while everyone else is complaining because they were up all night sucking water out of their basement, you can relax and enjoy all that spring has to offer knowing your B-Dry® System is keeping your basement dry!

Don't forget we have an awesome referral bonus program and everyone can benefit from it. All you have to do is get the word out about B-Dry® System of South Central Michigan, Inc. Tell your friends, neighbors, family members, anyone! If they have work completed by our company we will mail you $100.00 as a token of our appreciation. There is no limit to how much you can make! So get the word out about B-Dry® System of South Central Michigan, Inc.

If you are interested in getting a free estimate for your basement leakage problem, call or email us today! We have licensed sales consultants ready to assist you whether your problem is large or small! Learn more.

Last but not least during this month of thanksgiving we want to express how thankful we are to those who have done business with our company over the past year. We also want to thank all of our employees who put in countless hours of hard work to provide a first class expierence on every job we do. We wouldn't be the great company we are without any of you!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

With the hot and humid days of summer upon us, the need to run a dehumidifier in your basement or crawlspace could be here. Does your basement or crawlspace smell? Does the air feel damp when you enter your basement or crawlspace? Are the walls and floor of your basement or crawlspace wet to the touch? If you answered yes to these questions and you don’t see leaking or puddles of water in the basement, then you might have a high humidity problem. This can be easily solved with a dehumidifier.  

What is a dehumidifier? A dehumidifier is a machine that takes moisture out of the air in a room and condenses it back into water.

There are several sizes and types of dehumidifiers on the market today. Depending on your problem, you’ll want to look for a dehumidifier that fits your needs, whether it be a basement dehumidifier or a crawlspace dehumidifier. Pay close attention to the size of the unit in ratio to the size of your basement. The larger the basement the bigger dehumidifying unit you will need. Also note that a dehumidifier cannot pull moisture through portioned basement walls. So if you have walls dividing your basement into rooms and want to dehumidify the entire area, then you will need more than 1 dehumidifying unit placed in each room.

Most modern dehumidifiers have an automatic setting which allows the unit to come on when necessary and shut off when not needed. One thing to consider when looking to buy a dehumidifier is how you’ll be discharging the water the unit collects from the moisture it takes out of the air. All units normally come with a small collection container that will hold a certain amount of water. When this collection container is full the unit will no longer operate. To ensure the dehumidifying process is taking place correctly you’ll need to monitor the collection container and empty it when necessary.

If you can’t be bothered the check the collection container often an option to drain the discharge water directly from the unit through a hose into a floor drain or other receptacle is a good idea. You might see a small increase in your electric bill when you first start using the dehumidifier, this is normal and in most cases will even out as the unit will regulate the moisture content in the space and run less over time. Please note that the dehumidifier might run more often when it’s raining or seasonally humid outside.

As important as eaves troughs and downspouts are for your roof, a dehumidifier is as equally important for your basement.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

DO: Your own research about your problem before hiring a contractor. Being an informed consumer is the best way to protect yourself against being taking advantage of by a shotty contractor. Know your problem and the possible solutions that can solve it. Be prepared to say no when you're not comfortable with a solution and move on to another company if you are not happy with the solution or price they are providing you with.

DO: Obtain multiple quotes to repair your problem. Different companies offer different systems and different solutions to basement waterproofing. Key things to look for are:
   - How long has the company been in business?
   - Does the company have 1 location or it is a franchise with many locations?
   - What are the warranty terms offered with their solution?

Things to remember when comparing quotes side by side:
   - Not all waterproofing products and systems are made equally.
   - Not all installers are trained equally.
   - There is not one single solution of waterproofing product or system for all situations.

DO: Check references the company offers you. Also ask your friends, neighbors and family members if they know any information about the company. A company with a long track record of good business will have done business with a lot of people and most likely will have a favorable response from others when asked. Check with the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General's office for contractor complaints. Learn more.

DON'T: Try and do the work yourself. Basement waterproofing work is labor intensive and should only be done by a qualified professional. In most cases, the products that make up the waterproofing systems have been designed and tested over decades and these products can only be installed by qualified professionals and cannot be purchased at a consumer home repair store.

DON'T: Make your decision based on advertising or be swayed by the final price. With basement waterproofing, you get what you pay for. Simply put: a higher quality waterproofing system with a lifetime warranty will cost more than a subpar system with no or limited warranty.

DON'T: Put the work off any longer than you have to. Normally when water is leaking into your basement, it's never a good sign. A basement which has leaked for years can harbor all kinds of problems down the road. Everything from rusted appliances (furnace, water heater, water softener) to mold growth. Pressure from water intrusion can cause basement walls to bow and floors to crack.

DON'T: Put your house on the market with a wet basement! Trying to sell a home with a wet basement will almost always result in either a lower asking price or no sale at all. Buyers are scared off my potential problems when looking for a house to buy and a wet basement is one of the more severe problems that they do not like seeing. A basement waterproofing system that has a Lifetime Warranty is the best investment you can make if you're looking to sell your home. Learn more.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Obviously if you've been watching the news at all this spring,  you have probably noticed that there has been a lot of rainy weather going on. Tornados in the south, soaking daily rains in the north. Michigan is no exception when it comes to rain. Some say because of the lack of rainfall last year, we're getting our yearly amount plus that of what was missed years previous. Whether that is true or not, it's important to keep up on certain things around your house to help keep your basement dry. I know we've talked before about gutters and downspouts. As some might over look these things, they serve an important job in getting water away from your foundation. Make sure they are in good condition and clean them out yearly if they get clogged with tree leaves or other debris.

Remember that the ground around your home also has something to do with your basement getting wet. Make sure the ground slopes away from your foundation, not towards it. This will encourage water to slope away from your foundation, which helps a lot when an inch of rain falls over night. Also if you have a sump pump with an above grade discharge, make sure that the discharge pipe is extended out far enough so water does not recycle back down into the ground and make the pump work harder than it needs to. It might also be a good idea to have a back up pump ready if the current one fails. That way you are prepared so you don't have a disaster on your hands!

Friday, March 18, 2011 

Spring showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. Spring showers often times cause basements to leak as well. Blooming flowers will enjoy the much needed rain, but as the owner of a home with a flooded basement, you probably won't be enjoying the situation you'll be in if your basement leaks. This is the time, after the snow has melted, to take a visual inspection of your homes foundation and the ground around it. Take notice of any cracks you see in the foundation. These areas are possible points where water can enter your foundation. You'll want to seal these openings up as soon as possible. Often times, depending on the size of the opening, a general exterior waterproofing caulk or sealant will work just fine. Also look at the yard around your homes foundation. Fill in any low areas near your foundation where water could collect during a hard rain or storm. Ideally, the ground around your homes foundation should slope away so water is not encouraged to go to your foundation but drain away from it. Remember: Water takes the path of least resistance. So the harder you make it for water to get into your basement, the more dry it will be.

Monday, February 7, 2011 

This is a good time to check your sump pump and discharge to be sure they are functioning properly. With spring rains and snow melts coming you don't want to be caught unprepared. You can check these by adding water to your sump crock to the point where the pump kicks on and discharges properly. If your discharge pipe empties to the outdoors it would be a good idea to go out and check to be sure the water was discharged properly. This will assure you that the pipe is not broken or frozen under the snow. At the same time you can check your downspout extensions to make sure they're still connected so as to direct your roof water well away from your foundation. Making sure that surface water is being directed away from your foundation will help to reduce the hydrostatic pressure build up, which leads to water entering your basement.