sump pump

Irritated by Iron? Ask Our NJ Basement Specialists About GrateSump

New Jersey’s iron-bearing rocks and soil have long allowed minerals to seep into the state’s aquifer. Although normal and perfectly safe for living creatures, iron rich water doesn’t bode well for a home’s plumbing system. It traditionally causes a number of problems, including dehumidifier and sump pump clogs. At least that was the norm until the GrateSump came on to the market.

Don’t Let Your New Jersey Basement Flood with Hard Water

Our New Jersey basement specialists and waterproofing contractors have found it to be one of the best weapons in the fight against iron clogs. To begin with, the versatile GrateSump is designed to maximize water flow without adding to a home’s existing humidity, plumbing and foundation problems. Easy to maintain, they are compatible with dehumidifiers and back up pumping systems too.

Best Basement Water Control Systems in NJ Aren’t Beaten by Iron

Speaking of which, there are dehumidifiers and back up pumping systems that are ideal for homes with hard water. We often recommend that our clients use systems that include advance alarm alerts and efficient pumps. They go a long way in heading off iron problems. Similar may be said for running dehumidifiers with distilled or otherwise softened water. In addition, the periodic use of lime scale removal products may help too.

In certain situations, hard water may create staining around damaged foundations and basement areas prone to flooding. Oftentimes, the stains are further ingrained into a home’s floors and walls thanks to iron-fixing bacteria. The good news is they may be safely addressed as well. Furthermore, once the GrateSump and related components are in place, chances are the risk of staining and bacteria formation will reduce significantly.

Solve New Jersey’s Basement Flooding Problems Now

To find out if a GrateSump should be a part of your New Jersey home’s basement water control solution, please contact us at Select Basement Waterproofing today. Our basement and waterproofing experts are ready to conduct evaluations and offer the best solutions to everyone that reaches out to us today.

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5 Reasons You Need Basement Waterproofing in Edison NJ 08817

Basements are not often thought about until damage has been done to the foundations, or any other major problems have occurred. This means that basement waterproofing in Edison NJ 08817 is not really thought about by every homeowner.

However, it should be considered is you have not already for a number of reasons.

  1. Basement waterproofing in Edison NJ 08817 can help to keep you and your family healthy

Having a damp and musty basement makes it much easier for you and your family to get ill. This is because if there is excess moisture in the basement, it becomes the perfect habitat for mold and mildew. Then, spores from these organisms can be blown into the air and can easily rise into the rest of the home.

  1. Waterproofing can save you money on your utility bills

This is because heating damp air uses a lot more energy than heating dry air. By waterproofing your basement, the heating and cooling systems will not need to wok as hard and will thus save you money.

  1. If you have not waterproofed your basement, you are wasting space

Your basement is the perfect space for storage if it is kept dry and clean, otherwise your treasured items can become dampened and moldy. Basement waterproofing in Edison NJ 08817 means that you can take advantage of an extra room within your home.

  1. Waterproofing will raise the value of your home

If you ever are planning to sell your house in the future, having a waterproofed basement will significantly add value. If it has been waterproofed, it can even be used as a living space if you are not planning to sell.

  1. Peace of mind

The weather is far out of your control, and basement waterproofing in Edison NJ 08817 will ensure your peace of mind in any case of flash flooding or bizarre weather events. Resulting damage from excess moisture in your basement will probably be more expensive to fix than waterproofing would have been in the first place. This being the case, you will not have to worry about damage occurring when these events occur.

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What Are The Benefits of Basement Sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816

When you think of a home, the basement is the last thing that comes to mind. However, it is one of the most important spaces in the home. It is the foundation of the home. It is what gives the home its structural integrity.

Water is the worst enemy of basements. It can cause great damage to a basement and the rest of the structure of the home as a result. It is therefore important to ensure that your basement is made waterproof.

There are many benefits to basement sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816. These include:

  1. Increasing the value of your home

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, sealing your basement will contribute a great deal to its value. Ensuring that your basement is sealed will increase the usable space within your home. This means that the square footage of your home increases since your basement will count as a floor as well. Remember that for many people, the basement space makes up about 1/3 of the total space of the home.

  1. Increased usable space

As mentioned earlier, having your basement sealed will ensure that you have more usable space available to you. You can do just about anything with a waterproofed basement. You can turn it into an office, a guest room, a music studio or an extra living room. You can greatly improve your family’s quality of life with extra space to work around.

  1. Protect your family’s health

A humid or damp basement provides the ideal environment for the growth of mold. Mold such as toxic black mold can develop into fully grown mold within 48 hours or less. Although most molds are harmless, some produce toxic chemicals that can result in infections and poisoning.

Molds also produce spores. Exposure to a high spore count can result in allergic reactions including difficulty in breathing and skin irritation.

  1. Preserves the integrity of your home

Basement sealing protects the integrity of your home. Molds and moisture can not only destroy furniture and the beauty of your home’s walls and floors, but also affect the structural integrity of the home. Ensuring that your basement is made waterproof will protect your home from mold and moisture. It will save you a lot of money in repairs for the long term.

Lastly, basement sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816 gives you peace of mind. You never have to worry about a flooded basement when you hear claps of thunder in the distance.

basement storage in trenton nj

Creative Ideas for Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Everybody loves a house with a basement. Even if it is just used for storage, the basement is a luxury of untapped space. While the livable basement is the vogue right now, if you don’t have the budget to convert your unfinished basement to living space, create an organized storage area.

The key is organizing your basement

The trick to any storage is organizing. Remember, most people have too much stuff so it is OK to go through your stuff, especially if you buy something new. A good rule is to throw away something old for everything you buy new. This theory helps you not get too much stuff. Too much stuff is the death of organizing and staying organized. Once you have purged the items that you never, ever use or don’t want anymore it is time to find their proper place in the storage zone.

Store less frequently used items in the basement

Obviously, the stuff you put in the basement shouldn’t be your everyday items. All of your every day, every week, and even every month, stuff should be more accessible than stored in the basement. Every day items should be stored in accessible drawers. Stuff you use every week should be in cupboards and pantries on the main living area in the room where it will be most used. The items you use about every month can be in the top of the closet—away but not too far away. Items stored in the basement should be once or twice a year items. Holiday decorations are a great example of a good basement storage item.

The exception is if you need to use the basement storage in Trenton NJ as more like a pantry or for bulk item storage. If you need this type of storage make sure the daily or weekly items are accessible. Storage shelves are good for the pantry-type items needed for storage in the basement. Make sure your storage shelves are fully accessible. Don’t fill up your shelves with your Costco toilet paper and then stack boxes in front of them. It will make it a pain to get to the stuff you need.

Have an organized system so you know where everything is

Organize the items you want to store by likeness. For example, all the Christmas stuff should be together and all the sports equipment should be together. Another common sense tip, but it has to be said. Taking the time to make sure all your ski boots are stored with your poles will save you time when it is time to hit the slopes.

Be aware that basements can flood

Basement storage in NJ may be a little different from other storage space in your house. Remember, the basement is below ground so the environment will be different than the upper levels of the house. Make sure that you don’t store cardboard boxes or any other organic material storage containers on the floor. Storage boxes should be plastic and at least six inches off the ground. Basement can flood and it is easier to just keep the plastic storage boxes off the ground than to deal with soggy, cardboard boxes after a basement flood.

Waterproof Your Basement

Even with that, any water issues should be dealt with in the basement. Never store anything in the basement if there are signs of water issues without taking care of them. Visible standing water, water stains, peeling paint, water bubbles, mildew, mold, musty odors or foundation cracks are all signs of water issues in the basement. Even if you are just using the basement as storage it makes sense to fix any water issues to create a dry, basement environment. Then if you ever wanted to convert the basement into living space it is already prepped with the proper waterproofing and drainage systems.

Contact us for a FREE Estimate!

buying a home in new jersey

Structural Problems to Look For When Buying a Home in New Jersey

Buying a Home in New Jersey

When you are house shopping, it is easy to forget to about the foundation. However, making sure the foundation is in good shape and structurally sound may be one of the most important steps when buying a home in New Jersey.

Inspect the foundation

First look at the foundation, and watch for any cracks inside or out. Small vertical cracks may be nonstructural but could potentially cause water infiltration. You can watch for mold or water stains to show the crack does leak. These nonstructural cracks should be fixed prior to moving in just to save you from dealing with major water issues come winter.

The horizontal cracks in a foundation wall are signs of structural damage. Also stair step cracks in block wall foundations or bulging or bowed walls are also signs of structural foundation problems.

Watch for signs upstairs

You can also watch for signs of settlement issues upstairs. If the doors and windows stick or if there are cracks in the sheetrock upstairs in the walls or the ceiling, you may have a foundation problem. Cracks can also be in the trim around the windows and doors. That is a sign the foundation is moving.

Look into the history of the site

Even newer houses can run into potential structural problems if the house was built on unstable ground. Do your research to see what the property was used for in the past. Past gravel pits, old landfills and dumps can be the cause of major foundation problems. Most developers will know not to build over past pits, but sometimes they don’t. There have been issues where developers will bury large tree stumps or garbage on the building site creating massive problems when those decompose. It will create holes in the ground and create an unstable ground.

Watch for water issues and signs of water build-up

Water issues in the basement should never be left alone. Always fix the leaks and other water issues in the basement because not only does it cause mold, mildew, and poor indoor air quality inside the home, but it also is the culprit of foundation damage. Leaving a basement leak or a leaky crack in the foundation will eventually start to deteriorate the foundation wall making it weak and fragile. Water damage to the foundation wall can result in spalling where the concrete starts to break off the foundation wall. Water infiltrating the basement is also a sign there is water build up on the outside wall. If there is water building up in the soil outside, then it is creating hydrostatic pressure, a common cause of structural damage in foundation walls. Basement waterproofing and proper outside drainage systems will relieve hydrostatic pressure and potential structural problems.

You can negotiate in the contract to have the seller solve these foundation issues before you buy the house. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the house because most of these issues can be fixed. With a professional foundation repair contractor and/or basement waterproofer, you won’t have to worry. Just make sure it gets in the final agreement to either have them fix the issue or drop the price of the house so you can fix the issue after you buy it. It is a good idea to elicit the help of a foundation repair contractor if you suspect foundation issues. They will be able to provide an inspection and quote to help you negotiate and understand what you are really getting into. This information will help you make your decision.

If you’d like a FREE Estimate for foundation repair when buying a home in New Jersey, then please contact us!

sump pump

The Importance of Installing a Sump Pump with the Winter Storm Boreas in Effect

Install a Sump Pump

Winter storm Boreas hasn’t been making this Thanksgiving travel season any easier for us New Jersey homeowners. Whether you’re having trouble catching the next flight out to go see family for the holidays, or you’re worried about your basement flooding due to the large volume of water and wind pounding the area, you’ve likely got a lot to worry about. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have a waterproofing system as well as a functioning sump pump.

Multiple inches of heavy rain and high winds brought by Boreas certainly create plenty of opportunity for extended power outages and seepage due to ground saturation. Here are a few things to look out for.

Power Outages

Your waterproofing system relies on a sump pump to pump the water collected by your waterproofing system out and away from your foundation. Your sump pump relies on electricity from your home in order to operate. Without power, your waterproofing system essentially becomes a “bowl” for the water to collect and potentially flood up into your home.

Sump Pump Motor Burnout

With heavy rains come a heavy burden on your sump pump. As more water flows into the sump basin and fills up more rapidly and more often, your pump has to work harder to pump it out. If the water volume coming in is greater than the amount of water your pump is able to pump out, your pump could be at risk for burning out completely.

Sill Plate Seepage

With increase rainfall comes more water pooling in your yard and along your foundation. Sump pumps and gutter downspouts can also significantly contribute to this standing water. This poses a risk of seepage coming in from the sill plate, or the seam at or near ground-level where the rest of your home rests upon the top of your foundation walls.

Remember to test those sump pumps, and extend those discharge links and gutter downspouts. The idea in a heavy storm like this is to direct as much water away from your foundation as possible, while maximizing the pumping efficiency of your existing waterproofing system. And one final pro tip for you, if you haven’t already invested in a battery operated backup pump yet, DO IT! It can mean the difference between a dry, healthy basement and a flooded basement!

Contact us for more information about waterproofing systems and sump pumps.