When people think of wet basements, they may think of standing water and soggy carpeting. And, while a flooded basement is not a treat, even a little water can cause problems for your home and family.
High humidity and unseen water seepage can do as much damage, if not more, than a basement full of water. When you see that you have standing water, you know that you have to do something immediately, so you probably call in a waterproofing expert right away. If you are dealing with just a small trickle, you may not even notice that there is anything wrong.
There are a variety of problems that can occur if your home is experiencing water seepage. If it is a small trickle that you don’t notice, it could be inside your walls, weakening your supports and foundation walls. Another possible problem is that the water can cause a fire hazard if it comes into contact with electrical systems. It can cause cracks, wood rot, or mold growth.
A little bit of water or high humidity can cause mold and mildew to grow and spread. The spores are released into the air and can cause a wide variety of health problems. Over 40% of the air we breathe in our homes comes from our basement or crawlspace, so it is important that we are breathing healthy air. Spores can cause everything from runny eyes and noses to breathing problems and there are even studies that say that they can cause cancer. Children and elderly people are most susceptible to mold and mildew growth.
You may not notice actual mold growth, as this can happen behind walls or in air ducts. You may find that your home has a musty or stale odor and this is usually a sign of mold and mildew growth.
It is very important that you get your home tested for mold if you see any signs of growth or are noticing health issues in your family. The sooner you address the situation, the quicker and less costly the cleanup will be. Most companies will give you a free inspection and estimate for mold removal.
Your home is most likely resting on wood beams and a brick or concrete foundation. Water can wreak havoc on both materials. Your wooden supports can soften due to moisture or develop wood rot, causing them to weaken. You may notice your floors warping or sinking or doors and windows sticking or not staying open. Wood will swell with exposure to water, causing all kinds of problems.
Concrete can also fall victim to water seepage. Water can quickly erode concrete, weakening it. It only takes a crack as wide as a hair to allow water in and the water will take advantage and widen that crack even more. You may only see a small dribble on this side of the wall, but on the other side could be an extreme amount of water putting a lot of pressure on your foundation walls.
There are some small things you can do to keep water out of your basement. Make sure that your gutters are clear and that your downspouts are draining well away from your foundation. Trees and other landscaping should be away from your home, allowing water to drain properly. You may be tempted to go to your favorite DIY store and find something to seal your basement yourself. That usually doesn’t work out well for anyone.
Eventually, there comes a time where you just can’t (or shouldn’t) do repairs yourself. A reputable waterproofing contractor, like Matthews Wall Anchor & Waterproofing Services, will look for cracks in your ceilings, floors, or walls. They will be able to determine the cause of the cracks and the best solution for repairing them, in addition to making sure that they do not reoccur.
Solutions range from installing a dehumidifier to interior and exterior waterproofing, including the installation of sump pumps. If you have a crawl space, you may want to have the area encapsulated, in effect, sealing off the crawl space from the water source.
Before you start any waterproofing project, you need to make sure all gaps and cracks are sealed. It won’t do any good to install a waterproofing system if you don’t control the water to begin with.
Some interior waterproofing methods that are tried and true include commercial grade waterproofing coatings. These applications are thick and will bond with your concrete or masonry work. The sealers are silicate-based and will chemically react with the concrete, creating a permanent seal.
A step up from a waterproof coating may be needed. The installation of an interior drainage system will collect the water and send it away from your home. Some methods include vapor barriers, dehumidifiers, and sump pumps.
Your gutters and downspouts are the first lines of defense when it comes to exterior waterproofing. Make sure they are running clear and away from the foundation. The next step is to make sure the surface drainage is working. Check that the ground around your home is graded properly and drains away from the foundation.
Exterior waterproofing involves excavation, but the payoff is worth it. The installed drainage system doesn’t prevent flooding, but it will work with the interior waterproofing system to keep your basement or crawl space dry.
With a little work, you can protect your basement and home from damage caused by water seepage. You can reduce the chances of wall and floor cracks, weakened foundations, and mold growth. Contact the professionals today at Matthews Wall Anchor and let us help you with your water seepage problems.
There are a variety of ways that a dehumidifier can help and benefit homes and businesses in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. Dehumidifiers keep your home cool, dry, and more comfortable and safe for your home and possessions. Humidity can destroy your possessions and create problems in your foundation and around your home. It can cause mold and mildew to grow, as well as cause rust and water stains. Not only will a dehumidifier keep your possessions and home safe, it will prevent other problems such as dust mites, dust and allergens, bacteria, and musty odors. Your home will be a cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable place with our dehumidifiers. Our dehumidifiers prevent or help to prevent all of the following, including:
The problems listed above can lower the value of your home and possessions. We know that your home and many of your possessions are large investments; a dehumidifier can help protect those investments so you can maintain the value of your property. It will also keep your family or employees healthy. The air will be cleaner and safer to breathe. Sometimes, our dehumidifiers can even help a home or business become more energy efficient. We have seen some of our customers report lower energy costs.
At Matthews Wall Anchor we sell and install Santa Fe Dehumidifiers which have been known to save homes and businesses about $40 per month on operating costs. These products are all made in the United States, as well. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of a dehumidifier in your Ohio or Pennsylvania home. We want to help you keep your home or business safe, clean, healthy, and comfortable. Give us here at Matthews Wall Anchor a call today!
Do you have a family member of family members in your Pennsylvania home that has asthma or other allergies? If so, there are so many good reasons to consider a Santa Fe dehumidifier from Matthews Wall Anchor for your home this winter. When all the windows are closed and there is no fresh air, having clean, breathable air in the home is extremely important for your family members with allergies or asthma. Here’s why.
People with allergies or asthma commonly have problems with these following things that are caused by excess moisture in your Pennsylvania home:
If you breathe in mold spores they can cause nasal stuffiness, skin, and eye irritation, as well as sneezing & wheezing.
Matthews Wall Anchor offers a line of Santa Fe Dehumidifiers for your Pennsylvania home. A dehumidifier can reduce the moisture in the air which limits the growth of mold and mildew, and prevent mold spores. Dehumidification can do more as well. It can reduce musty odors in your home, lower the amount of condensation on your windows which protects the wood around windows, it can lower your energy costs, and help prevent rust, corrosion, and water damage.
Matthews Wall Anchor offers open pricing on our dehumidifiers, so you can know ahead of time what it will cost. We offer open waterproofing pricing for all our Pennsylvania waterproofing solutions. We believe you should know the scope and cost of your dehumidification or waterproofing project in advance, but we also want you to understand the major advantages of having a good dehumidifier. If you have any questions about how a dehumidifier can help you, or if the water problems you are seeing in your Pittsburgh, PA home are more serious, give us a call. We are here to help!
High humidity in your home can cause damage to your personal possessions. Too much humidity can also cause moisture problems in your crawlspace and lead to the compromised structural integrity of your home’s foundational support system. That is why Matthews Wall Anchor provides quality dehumidifiers from Santa Fe. Putting a dehumidifier in your home, particularly in the basement can greatly reduce the humidity. This reduced humidity will prevent issues such as mold growth, wood rot, and metal rust from occurring in your home.
The dehumidifiers from Santa Fe are manufactured in the United States – not only will purchasing a dehumidifier from Matthews make your home healthier and safer, but it will also provide support for your fellow Americans. The value of a low humidity, dry living space is far greater than you may realize. In addition to removing the threat to your personal belongings and the structural integrity of your home, lowering the humidity in your home will create a cooler and more comfortable environment for you and your family. Some of the most noticeable problems caused by high humidity are:
Excessive humidity in your home will cause natural materials such as paper and wood to deteriorate. The humidity in your home can also cause mold to develop in your basement or crawlspace. If there is mold in your crawl space, it will most likely infect the air in the rest of the home, causing health issues for allergy prone members of your family.
The best way to dehumidify your home is to put in a dehumidifier. Matthews Wall Anchors can provide you with a Santa Fe dehumidifier to lower the overall humidity of your home, preventing mold growth and dust mites. Santa Fe dehumidifiers can help lower the humidity in your home to lower than 50%, which is recommended to prevent moisture issues. The dehumidifiers from Santa Fe also have a large capacity, making them perfect for keeping the moisture down in nearly any sized home. Using a dehumidifier from Matthews can also help to save you money, nearly $40 per month in operating costs. Our team of professional waterproofing contractors can help you determine the best dehumidifier to go in your home or business.
Another way to prevent excessive humidity in your home is to have a vapor barrier installed. This process, known as wall encapsulation, is excellent at sealing water vapor and moisture out of your home, reducing the humidity in all areas. The barrier is made of a water retardant foil or plastic that protects the interior foundation wall of the crawlspace or basement. Once the vapor barrier is successfully installed all along the interior walls of the crawlspace, you can work on installing a drainage method to further reduce humidity.
Interior waterproofing systems such as a sump pump and sump basin can also keep moisture out of the home. This system collects the water with a drainage pipe system and dumps the water in a sump pit. The water is then pumped out y the sump pump and carried away from the home.
If you are in need of dehumidification for your Pennsylvania home, contact the waterproofing experts at Matthews Wall Anchors as soon as possible.
Basements are a great place for storing belongings or having an extra living area in your home. Unfortunately, they can be a great environment for mold growth, mildew, and humidity. However, there are ways you can help prevent mold from growing in your basement. Mold can be caused by a home’s number one enemy: water. Because basements receive little amounts of sunlight and ventilation, mold thrives in damp, dark and humid conditions. It can go undetected for a long time if you have an unfinished basement that is not an extra living area. It can also grow on any surface such as wood, cardboard boxes, wallpaper, furniture, insulation, drywall, and carpet. Black mold, the most dangerous type of mold, starts to grow after floods. It is also the most toxic, creating respiratory problems for people with asthma or compromised immune systems.
The best solution to preventing mold growth is to find the source. Some common causes of mold growth include:
If you notice mold in your basement, you may have high levels of moisture and humidity. Look for other signs of moisture and humidity problems such as:
After repairing your plumbing leaks and broken pipes, check to see if you still have high levels of moisture and humidity. If so, the professionals at Matthews Wall Anchors will minimize moisture and humidity in your home by installing a Santa Fe Dehumidifier. The Santa Fe Dehumidifier reduces and controls moisture levels to protect your belongings and family’s health. This product will also help you save money on utilities, making your home more energy efficient.
We also offer basement waterproofing methods such as interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, sump pumps, sump pits, sump basins, drainage systems, and basement drainage. All of these methods are designed to divert water away from your foundation to keep your basement dry and prevent water seepage. Waterproofing systems also prevent structural damage to homes to keep them safe and sound. Our products are made by Earth Contact Products, the leading manufacturer in the waterproofing industry.
Contact Matthews Wall Anchors to control flooding and pooling water around your foundation. Our waterproofing techniques will lower humidity and moisture in your home to prevent mold growth, sagging floors, and condensation on insulation. Call us today if you need a free estimate. We’ll be happy to serve you.