Indianapolis Basement Waterproofing: 5 Tips for Homeowners
The Midwest is a great place to live, and Indiana is no exception. However, our region’s climate and soil conditions mean that your home can be more susceptible to foundation issues. Consider our fairly consistent rainfall, wintertime lake effect snowfall, constant summertime humidity, and occasional drought, all of which can cause stress on our homes throughout the year, usually by affecting the soil supporting our homes.
Soil shrinkage in dry conditions, erosion in wet ones, heaving and settling during extreme temperature changes, and poor drainage can cause problems in your home’s foundation by removing or changing the ground underneath the building, which can cause damage throughout the entire structure. Everything from the soil type to the water table for your region can also have an effect on how water will affect your home. For all of its beauty, Indiana is an area that puts your home’s foundation to the test—but it’s nothing that can’t be overcome with a bit of forethought and some Indiana foundation repair expertise.
It’s crucial that Indianapolis homeowners keep an eye on their property for signs of foundation problems. As long as you catch the problems caused by water intrusion soon enough, you can mitigate a lot of the major problems and keep them from coming back. Here are five tips to help homeowners put a stop to major water-related problems.
1. Look For Water Intrusions
If you haven’t done it already, check on your basement the next time it’s wet outside, whether from snowmelt or rainfall. If your basement is leaking or flooding, you probably have a foundation problem, and it’s not something that can be fixed with a shop-vac. If water is coming into your home, that means the ground underneath it might be weakened, which can lead to structural damage as the ground supporting your home softens and can’t support its weight anymore. A basement waterproofing system from Acculevel could incorporate a water tunneling channel system or geo channel water direction, depending on the specific needs of your home.
2. Install a Sump Pump System
As part of your Indianapolis basement waterproofing, you might install a channel system to help redirect water away from your home, into a sump pump, or both. A working sump pump system and reliable backup are essential for any homeowner in the Midwest, and Acculevel can set you up with top-of-the-line options. Get a system that’s safeguarded against failures, both from power outages and mechanical issues, and has an airtight seal to keep insects, odors, and radon gas from getting into your home. A perforated liner that drains beneath the basement floor and a high water alarm are also good ideas, and both come standard with Acculevel’s sump pump options. Choose from A/C Backup, D/C Backup, or Heavy Duty options, and link your sump pump system to your smart home technology with an Advanced Text Alarm that lets you know when your basement is protected from water, even when your power goes off.
3. Fight Mold and Mildew
Containing the side effects of a wet, humid environment is part of Indianapolis basement waterproofing. Our area gets wet and has a lot of humidity in the soil and air, which can release not only water vapor, but debris, contaminants, and pollen, all of which can affect the air quality in your home. Damp air can also carry mold spores and musty odors, which leads to mold or mildew growth, rotten organic material, and an enticing environment for pests.
Mold treatment requires killing the mold, treating the area, and waterproofing it so that it doesn’t happen again. Acculevel uses a water-based fungicidal coating in order to treat and prevent mold, mildew, fungi, bacteria, and other unwelcome fungal houseguests from growing. As part of your Indianapolis basement waterproofing, we also offer WhiteCap professional grade basement liner encapsulation, which serves as a vapor barrier as well as an anti-microbial to keep mold out, ensuring conditions are never right for it to start growing.
4. Watch Your Walls
Your basement is literally under a lot of pressure, and your basement walls will start feeling it before a lot of other parts of your home. Changing soil conditions, improperly compressed soils, unevenly distributed weight, and a lot of other foundation problems can cause your basement walls to bow, lean, rotate, or crack as they try to resist pressure from the soil in ways they weren’t supposed to. Damaged basement walls are worrying on their own, but are especially troubling because they may lead to other structural issues in your basement and ultimately in the rest of your home. Acculevel can use carbon fiber straps, tie backs, and wall anchors to support walls that have been damaged from water intrusions. There’s not much you can do to change the soil around your home, but you can help keep it stable for years to come with a little extra support for your foundation.
5. Call Acculevel
Homeowners looking for basement waterproofing in Indianapolis trust Acculevel with their preventative measures and repairs. We have solutions for homeowners who need to redirect or remove water from their homes, repair the damage it’s already caused, and keep it from doing more harm. You and your family deserve the peace of mind that comes with a waterproofed basement, and your wallet and health will thank you. To schedule your free home inspection and basement reconditioning or waterproof estimate, get in touch with Acculevel today.
