Solving Basement Flooding Issues in Richmond, VA
Challenge
This homeowner in Richmond, Virginia was having some flooding issues in their basement and gave us a call at The Drying Company to come and check it out. We sent one of our well-trained Home Performance Advisors to evaluate the situation and draw up some solutions for the problem.
Upon inspection, we noticed that their basement walls were made of porous brick blocks, which can allow moisture to seep through into the basement. The moisture that infiltrates the basement will raise the relative humidity, which can cause mold and mildew growth and can ruin personal belongings.
Efflorescence was also visible along these brick walls, a clear indication of moisture infiltration. The moisture that seeps through the walls brings along with it the salts and sediments from within the blocks, creating a chalky, powdery substance along the surface of the walls.
We quickly drew up a proposal to help keep moisture from entering the basement, even during major rainstorms. We proposed our plans and solutions to the homeowner and scheduled for our installers to come out.
Solution
The first thing we did was move all the homeowner’s possessions away from the perimeter of the basement. We needed a clear space inside along the exterior walls of the basement before we could begin working.
The next step was to install a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier along exposed basement walls. This heavy-duty liner acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder. It will not only help protect moisture from infiltrating further into the basement but will help with our drainage system which we will mention next. The vapor barrier is mechanically attached to the basement walls and sealed using special vinyl tape.
We then used a jackhammer to create a trench along the perimeter of the basement. The installers filled that trench with drainage rocks and then installed our Water Guard XL drainage system on top of the rock. This system catches any water collected and drains it towards a sump pump basin. The Water Guard XL has flanges that are installed against the CleanSpace vapor barrier, which will collect any water the CleanSpace has trapped.
A hole is created in connection to the trench line, where a TripleSafe twin liner basin is installed. This basin contains a triple pump system, including a 1/3 horsepower Zoller pump, a 1/2 horsepower Zoller pump, and a battery backup UltraSump. It also included 3 CleanPump stands, an airtight lid, and a WaterWatch alarm system in case of any pump failures. Any water collected by the CleanSpace liner and drained away by the Water Guard XL system is led to this sump pump basin, where it can be properly drained out via a discharge line to a predetermined location outside the home.
The last thing we did was recement over the trench and advise the homeowner to wait till it dries to move their belongings back along the basement walls. With the CleanSpace vapor barrier, the Water Guard XL system, and the TripleSafe sump pump system in place, the homeowners should feel safe during large thunderstorms and potential floods.
We would also mention that the relative humidity could be controlled further if needed using our SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier. This high-performance dehumidifier would help to regulate the relative humidity in the basement and circulate dry air around the space.
If you or someone you know are experiencing issues with basement flooding, then please give us a call at 757-566-8622 or visit us online at TheDryingCo.com for information on all our services. We are ready to help you keep the outside, outside!
