Keep Your Long Island Basement Dry

Installing a basement waterproofing system inside of your home is a fantastic idea. With all the innovations that have been made in the last decade on old-fashioned drain tile, French drain, and weeping tile systems in Long Island, along with the modern and more reliable sump pump systems, a waterproof basement is just a phone call away. If you have a wet basement and are looking for a solution, call Healthy Basement Systems today for a free basement waterproofing inspection and quote! We serve Smithtown, Dix Hills, Port Washington and all areas nearby.

However, to keep this water out, and to create a dry basement, something more may be needed. Moisture can easily travel through the concrete and grout used in your foundation walls and floors- and even more easily through sections of exposed dirt.

Step 1: Install a Moisture Barrier on Your Walls and Floors

Even when the surfaces of your basement walls and floors look dry at a glance, you can be sure that moisture is entering the basement continually through the concrete in the form of water vapor.

There are several ways to tell if moisture is passing through to your basement. One of the most common is a white, flaky powder that accumulates on basement walls.

This is known as efflorescence, and it's left behind as moisture leaves the basement walls and enters the air.

Other signs include mold and musty smells in the basement and rust on your pipes, tools, or other metal in the space.

If you're not sure if your basement floor is adding to your basement humidity, check it out by laying a layer of plastic on a section of your basement floor for several days.

If the space underneath is damp, then you know the moisture that would have passed upwards was instead trapped underneath the plastic.

BrightWall Basement Wall Coverings

Basement wall coating and paints are notorious for peeling and blistering off basement walls, eventually making the problem worse than ever.

The building efflorescence behind a waterproof coating will damage its bond, destroying it in a few months or years.

Instead, Healthy Basement Systems recommends installing BrightWall, a plastic wall covering that is mechanically attached to the wall and can be installed as a vapor barrier.

This easy-to-install basement wall covering will brighten the space and keep out moisture permanently.

ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting

Covering a carpet with wood, chipboard squares, or carpeting will simply trap moisture underneath and lead to rot. Instead, install an inorganic plastic floor tiling system such as ThermalDry Basement Floor Matting. This tile creates a complete vapor barrier on the floor that depressurizes the space and prevents the natural upward of movement of water from the floor. As an added bonus, each tile sits on raised pegs, creating a thermal break underneath that will make the surfaces of each tile 8-10 degrees warmer than the cold floor below. Carpeting and other floorings can be installed directly on top of this floor matting.

Both BrightWall and ThermalDry are available by Healthy Basement Systems in South Seaford, Lindenhurst, Deer Park, Babylon, Valley Stream, East Commack, Saint James and the surrounding areas in Long Island.

Step 2: Install a Reliable, Energy-Efficient Dehumidifier

Typical dehumidifiers are simply not powerful enough to keep a basement dry. Additionally, the cheap dehumidifiers sold at some hardware stores have collection trays that continually fill up, sometimes in as little as 8-12 hours. With 168 hours in a week, this means you'd have to empty your collection tray 14-21 times a week to keep it protecting your basement all the time?

Healthy Basement Systems has the answer to your dry basement needs: The SaniDry basement dehumidifier. This is the only dehumidifier available in Long Island that has the power and effectiveness you need.

Step 3: Service your Sump Pump Regularly

A sump pump contains mechanical parts, and like all appliances and utilities in your home, it will need routine maintenance. A brief annual visit by a service technician from Healthy Basement Systems can make sure your sump pump is clean and that all parts are working properly. The service specialist will test the pump, check the sump alarm battery, and check the charge on your battery backup sump pump.

The sump and liner will be cleaned out, and problems with the discharge will be checked. The technician can look for new emerging problems in the basement and will flood check the system to ensure it's working properly and your basement will be dry.

Contact a Basement Waterproofer in Long Island

Healthy Basement Systems is the premiere basement waterproofing contractor in Lindenhurst, Deer Park, Saint James, South Seaford, Valley Stream, East Commack, Babylon and other parts of Long Island. If you're in need of wet basement repair, we're ready to help. Waterproofing is our specialty, and with our great reputation in the community, you can be sure we'll be in business whenever you need us.

We offer free, no-obligation estimates to homeowners in our area. Each estimate includes an in-home inspection, a written quote, and a free copy of our 88-page color book on basement waterproofing. Call or contact us by e-mail today for a free basement repair quote