SUMP PUMP
A sump pump is a critical part of any home with a basement. If your basement is susceptible to flooding a sump pump is a necessary, line of defense against water damage. Sump pumps are installed in a sump pit which is usually located in the lowest part of your basement. When water enters the pit, the pump kicks on and begins to pump the water out of the pit and away from your home.
SUMP PUMP:
gives you a bird’s eye view into the ground beneath your home. As basement waterproofing experts, having access to that information helps us understand your unique situation that much better.
gives you the opportunity to expand your waterproofing system down the line. Not everyone will be ready for the whole project all at once and that’s why installing a sump pump is a great start. A French drain can be added at any time in the future.
If you have a dehumidification system in your home, you can drain the condensate directly into your sump pump basin.
will save you in the worst case scenario. Flooding.
The Discharge Line discharges the water that your sump pump is pumping out of your home. Everyone’s home is slightly different when it comes to discharging but there are some gold standards we follow for each install.
Uses1-1/2 in PVC Schedule 40 discharge line all hard piped out of the container and cored out through your foundation. This sturdy material cored through your foundation allows for multiple benefits:
Sump Pump Housing
Our sump pumps are made with stainless-steel housing and a cast iron base. The cast iron allows any heat produced by your sump pump’s moving parts to efficiently dissipate, while the stainless-steel housing offers the capacity to fit more robust pumping mechanisms. The stainless steel also protects your pump from rusting away while constantly submerged in water.
Check Valves:
The check valves on our sump pumps are screwed directly into the motor rather than being attached with hose clamps, and don’t require you to drill a release valve. These release valves are often used to quiet traditional check valves but can cause water to spray against the side of your sump pit, leaving a mess outside of your container. We always install silencing check valves which don’t require any release valve to be drilled while also preventing knocking or banging produced from the closing valve.
Float Switch
Install independent float switches on all of our pumps, which allow us to make adjustments to the height of your switch without having to cut the discharge line. This can be an important adjustment which will greatly reduce the number of cycles your pump runs.
Sump Pump Discharge Line:
The discharge line discharges the water that your sump pump is pumping out of your home. Use 1-1/2 in PVC Schedule 40 discharge line all hard piped out of the container and cored out through your foundation. This sturdy material cored through your foundation allows for multiple benefits:
Silencing
You’ll sometimes see discharge lines drilled out through the siding of your home. The issue arises when your sump pump begins pumping water. The vibration from the pump will transfer to the discharge line, then to your siding, and lastly your framing, causing a humming noise that can be heard as far away as your second story bedroom. By coring through your basement wall, your foundation will act as a sound deadener, dissipating any humming noise.
Maintaining Proper Pitch
Cold climates that experience a period of freeze face a challenge unique to those parts of the globe. Water leaving your discharge line has a chance to freeze which can cause your sump pump to back up. Core through your 10 in foundation at a slight angle ensuring the proper pitch of your discharge line. As long as the water running through your discharge line stays moving, it won’t freeze.
Once the discharge line is outside of your home it’s important to maintain that same pitch and is daylighted as far away from your foundation as possible. This means we like to see the end of the discharge line to ensure there are no obstructions or blockages.
Dual Pump Battery Backup with Wi-Fi monitoring. It has the power of a Standard Sump Pump, also has a backup pump that offers an additional pumping capacity of 2,580 gallons per hour. This secondary pump can be used in case your primary pump fails or in unison with the primary pump for maximum pumping capacity.
If the power goes out or the circuit running your sump pump is tripped the battery will continue to run both pumps. The battery can pump up to 13,000 gallons of water on a single charge. That’s enough water to fill an inground pool!
Download the app so you can see how often your pump cycles, how many gallons it pumps, and receive alerts regarding any potential issues.
Step 1:
Break the concrete around the perimeter of your basement (about 12” wide), then dig down and excavate the material (12” to 15” deep). We’ll need about 5 feet of clearance around the perimeter of your basement.
Step 2:
Start lying a bed of ¾” crushed stone in the trench.
Step 3:
Install 4” perforated drain pipe, starting at the lowest point of your basement, which is where your sump pump will be located. Make sure each 10’ length of pipe is properly pitched towards your sump pump.
Build a French Drain with Sump Pump
Step 4:
Install PolyCove dimple board along the pipe.
Step 5:
Add in the rest of the ¾” crushed stone and pour 2” to 3” of 4000 psi concrete over the top of the trench and blend it with your existing concrete.
Step 6:
Give the cement 72 hours to cure
Groundwater Table refers to the water that is present beneath the Earth’s surface within the soil and rocks. Level of water varies depending on factors such as rainfall, soil composition, and local hydrogeology.
Every foundation is a giant bowl in the earth. Groundwater collects in the bottom of that bowl and gets trapped underneath your basement floor. That water can’t drain or percolate fast enough so hydrostatic pressure builds. The water pushing up on the bottom of your slab can cause seepage, flooding, and cracking in your slab.
Wall Wrap
Wall Crack Repair
For small cracks, a simple resin or epoxy can be used to fill them and prevent water from seeping in. For larger cracks, you’ll need a solution such as DRY-SEAL 5000 that will effectively penetrate the crack and pores to stop the leak and repair the damaged concrete. Dry Crete
DRY-SEAL 5000 and DRY-SEAL 6000 are flexible resins designed to withstand the constant movement associated with the thawing and freezing of harsh winters. These thermosetting flexible resins adhere to the concrete surface, fill all voids, and form a unique, custom-fit seal through the entire wall thickness.
When injecting cracks, we have two formulas to ensure the ultimate adhesion and protection. DRY-SEAL 5000 is designed for wider cracks, whereas DRY-SEAL 6000 is designed for tight hairline fractures allowing us to achieve maximum penetration in tight spaces.
The DRY-SEAL 5000 and 6000 resins work so well because they have a viscosity (thickness) less than water, allowing the injection to penetrate the full thickness of the concrete. As the thin liquid fills the main crack, it’s able to seep into any capillary cracks, voids or pores, and honey combs, creating a permanent custom-fit watertight seal.
Unlike polyurethane or epoxy injections, which are rock hard when they cure, DRY-SEAL 5000 and 6000 cures with elasticity. This allows for slight movements in the foundation that are common in New England due to freezing and thawing. Each year your home shifts slightly with the changing seasons, DRY-SEAL is designed to slightly flex with the movement so it doesn’t crack.
The first step of the process is to prep the crack. To do that we chip out the edge of the crack then clean it with a razor to remove any small particles, encouraging proper adhesion.
Next, we drill port holes into the crack from top to bottom, each 10 inches apart,
then hammer ports into the holes.
We add a hydraulic cement backer then pump resin into the crack from bottom to top.
In most circumstances, crack injections are done from inside the house.
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING:
Applied waterproofing involves the use of specific materials that are designed to withstand hydrostatic pressure, adhere to your foundation walls, and provide a long-lasting protective coating. The benefits include:
Protection against Water Intrusion
Basements are prone to water intrusion, especially in areas with high water tables or heavy rainfall. Applied products create a barrier that helps prevent water from seeping through the foundation walls, keeping your basement dry and free from water damage.
Prevention of Mold and Mildew
Moisture in basements can create an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. Applied waterproofing products help to control moisture levels, reducing the risk of mold and mildew formation. This is crucial for maintaining a healthy indoor environment and preventing respiratory issues associated with mold exposure.
Preservation of Structural Integrity
Excessive moisture can deteriorate the structural integrity of your basement over time. Applied waterproofing products help to protect the foundation walls from water damage, including cracks, erosion, and weakening. By preventing water penetration, applied waterproofing preserves the strength and stability of your basement.
Drylok Extreme:
Drylok Extreme is a high-performance waterproofing product designed to provide exceptional protection against moisture intrusion. It is commonly used for interior basement walls, where the primary goal is to control moisture and prevent water seepage from the inside.
Drylok Extreme is designed to withstand hydrostatic pressure and can withstand up to 15 PSI (pounds per square inch) of water pressure while still allowing moisture vapors to escape
Crystalline Waterproofing Membrane:
Crystalline waterproofing is a cementitious waterproofing product that penetrates concrete and chemically reacts to form crystals, blocking capillary pores and microcracks. This product provides long-lasting waterproofing and can withstand high hydrostatic pressure.
The greatest feature of crystalline waterproofing is its ability to self-heal. If new cracks develop in the concrete, the crystalline technology allows the coating to reactivate and form new crystals, sealing the cracks and maintaining the integrity of the waterproof barrier.
Due to these self-healing characteristics, crystalline waterproofing has also been shown to support the structural integrity of concrete
SUMP PUMP MAINTENANCE:
Checking Sump Pump Operation
Drycrete will inspect the operation of the float switch (and back up pump/high water alert switch in dual pump models), make sure the intake is clear, examine the check valve for proper function, and ensure the impeller is free of obstruction.
Ensuring the Discharge Line is Free of Damage
Whether it’s silt or sediment carried into your container through ground water, or construction debris from a recent project, foreign material can build up in your sump pit. The motor then sucks up the materials and can jam up the impeller or cause excess wear on the motor. Cleaning the container allows the water to move in and be pumped out freely with no obstructions.
Checking for and Removing Sediment and Debris
Whether it’s silt or sediment carried into your container through ground water, or construction debris from a recent project, foreign material can build up in your sump pit. The motor then sucks up the materials and can jam up the impeller or cause excess wear on the motor. Cleaning the container allows the water to move in and be pumped out freely with no obstructions.
Adjusting Your Float Switch
An important feature of Drycrete’s sump pump is the adjustable float switch. The float switch is what triggers the pump to start pumping water out of the container. So if you notice that your pump is constantly running then we can make small adjustments to the height of the switch in an attempt to achieve an equilibrium in the resting water level of your pump container.
Opening Inspection Cap
If you have a sump pump and French drain combo, then Drycrete’s technicians will check to make sure your drain is clear and flush if necessary.
A Full Waterproofing Inspection
When we come out for annual maintenance, we conduct a full waterproofing inspection of your property. Our aim is never to sell you anything you don’t need but to identify potential issues before they arise.
The inspection includes:
French drain health assessment
Inspect new or leaking cracks in foundation
Gutter and downspout inspection
Checking for pooling water in your lawn
Look for changes in the grade of your yard
Test for radon
Test for humidity
Inspect window wells
A dehumidifier is strongly recommended for basements in Pennsylvania to manage humidity and prevent potential problems like mold growth, structural damage, and musty odors. Pennsylvania's average humidity levels contribute to these issues, making a dehumidifier a valuable tool for maintaining a healthy and comfortable basement environment.
Humidity Control: Basements, due to their location below ground and often lower ventilation, tend to be humid environments. High humidity can lead to a variety of problems, including:
Mold and Mildew Growth: Excess moisture creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can be harmful to health and damage property.
Structural Damage: Water can seep into walls, foundations, and other parts of a house, causing rot and weakening the structure.
Musty Odors: High humidity can lead to unpleasant musty odors.
Pest Issues: Excess moisture can attract pests like insects and rodents.
Benefits of a Dehumidifier: A dehumidifier effectively manages humidity by:
Removing Excess Moisture: It pulls damp air into its system, removes the water content, and releases drier air back into the basement.
Preventing Mold and Mildew: By reducing humidity levels, a dehumidifier helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Protecting Your Home: It helps protect your home's structure and belongings from moisture damage.
Improving Air Quality: A drier basement is a healthier environment for you and your family.
Importance in PA:
Pennsylvania's climate, with its average humidity levels, makes it particularly important to manage basement moisture. Running a dehumidifier, especially in the spring and summer months, can help prevent potential problems and ensure a comfortable basement environment.
Proper Use:
For optimal results, place the dehumidifier in the largest open space of the basement and ensure it's sized appropriately for the area. Consider running it for 12 hours a day to balance moisture management with energy costs