Steps To Maintaining A Dry Indianapolis Crawl Space

Although a wet crawl space can be very problematic for many Indianapolis homeowners, there are steps that can be taken to help possible prevent a wet crawl space for occurring. These steps are considered necessary in helping your home have a healthy, dry crawl space.

Step 1. Check All Downspouts
Runoff water from your roof can produce a great amount of water. On an average 1200 sq. ft. roof, 1" of rain can produce approximately 750 gallons of water. That is alot of water running through your gutter system and down though your downspouts. If your downspouts are not extended out away from your home, then this water is being dumped right next to your homes foundation. This water can then make it's way through your foundation walls and into your crawl space or basement. Downspouts that dumped directly next to your homes foundation can also lead to expensive foundation failure. It's important to check all your homes downspouts and ensure that they are proper extended away from your homes foundation. If your in need of proper downspout extensions please visit www.swaincollc.com or call 317-294-5278 for a free inspection.

Step 2. Keep Gutters Clean
As mentioned in step one, your roof produces a great amount of water. If your gutters are not properly cleaned out, this water has nowhere to go but over the top of your gutters and down next to your perimeter foundation of your home. This can cause your foundation walls to leak water into your crawl space or basement. Be sure to check your gutters on a regularly basis to help prevent water infiltration into your crawl space or basement.

Step 3. Check Sump Pumps
Many homeowners realize they have a sump pump problem after their crawl space or basement has flooded. This can be prevented by checking and cycling your sump pump of a regularly basis. If you have a battery back-up sump pump in your basement, it too needs to be checked and cycled. Finding out your battery back up sump pump doesn't work after the fact can be very problematic and costly. If your basement does not have a battery back-up sump pump, it would be recommended to considered it. Also, if your crawl space does not have a sump pump and appears to get standing water after heavy rains, installing a sump pump may keep you from having standing water. For more information about sump pumps visit our website www.swaincollc.com. Or call for a free inspection 317-294-5278.

Step 4. Check Yard Grade
Negative yard grade simply means your yard slopes to your house and not away from your house. This can cause excessive amounts of rain water to be directed to your homes foundation. This water can then cause seepage through your foundation walls and possible standing water in your crawl space or basement. It can also lead to possible foundation failure. Be sure to check your yards grade. If you do have negative grade be sure to take corrective steps to raise this. At times, raising your dirt level next to your house is not always possible due to the type of house or the type of construction. If this is the cause, it is recommended that proper drainage be installed around the perimeter of your home. If you think your home may need grading help or even drainage solutions please visit our website for more information at www.swaincollc.com or call 317-294-5278 for a free inspection.

For additional information on all things crawl space or basement please visit www.swaincollc.com. We are Indiana's original crawl space experts. From sump pump installations to full perimeter lifetime warranty drainage systems, SwainCo. has the knowledge and experience to help you solve all your crawl space and basement problems.

Crawl Space Sump Pumps

Many home owners with crawl spaces under their home who discover they get standing water in their crawl space after a heavy to moderate rain realize they must do something. Too often they make a decision to install just a sump pump and instantly they have a false sense of security. Yes it is true if your crawl space gets a foot of water at times a sump pump will prevent the crawl space from holding that much water as long as the pump works. Although a sump pump will lower the amount of water in the crawl space, what have you really accomplished? Let’s face it most sump pumps are installed close to the crawl space entry for maintenance purposes. So when the home owner opens the crawl space entry and sees 1-2 inches of water in places instead of a foot of water throughout the crawl space and sees the pump working they feel better. In truth a very damp crawl space is the same as a crawl space with a foot of standing water. They both produce 100% moisture in the crawl space air. This will then increase the moisture levels in the structural wood and will create an environment in the crawl space for wood destroying fungi growth and increased potential for mold growth in the living area above the crawl space. It is not the physical water that is doing the damage, but rather it is the amount of moisture in the air that is doing the damage. A very damp crawl space is the same as having a foot of water throughout the crawl space. If all the gutters are clean and the down spouts are draining away from the house properly with proper grade around the foundation and the crawl space still has standing water after a rain, the crawl space is most likely affected by a high water table. The only remedy in this case is a crawlspace drainage system. For best results the crawl space should also be encapsulated. Don’t be fooled by the Sump Pump only FALSE Sense of security. If you think you might need a drainage system, call 317-828-7897 for a free inspection or visit www.swaincollc.com