Home » Home Services
Category Archives: Home Services
Why Basement Repair Is Best Left to the Professionals
Water damage in your basement can lead to structural problems that threaten the safety and value of your home. It can also increase humidity levels and cause mold and musty odors that are bad for your health.
Hairline cracks can indicate a problem with your foundation, and they can get worse if left untreated. Epoxy injection is a common repair method for these issues. Contact Basement Repair Naperville IL now!
Many home owners consider foundation repair to be a major expense. The fact is, addressing any signs of a foundation problem early on will help you avoid additional repairs and potential safety issues.
While you can do some basement crack repair DIY, any type of significant damage to your foundation requires the expertise of a professional. These experts have the tools, training, experience, and solutions necessary to provide lasting home foundation repairs.
Depending on the size of your home and severity of damage, different foundation repair techniques will be needed. A few of the most common include waterproofing, crack sealing, and concrete stabilization.
Waterproofing is one of the most cost-effective ways to address basement problems. This method is used to protect basement walls from water intrusion and prevent future cracking. Cracks in basement walls typically signal the presence of structural issues that need to be addressed. Whether your basement has concrete or brick walls, it’s important to keep an eye out for any type of widening of these cracks. Cracks wider than 1/8 inch are often cause for concern, and any that span around corners of the basement or exhibit stair-step patterns may indicate that your foundation is sinking and exerting uneven pressure on the structure.
If you have a crawl space, it’s also critical to look for signs of moisture in the area. A crawl space that’s prone to mold and mildew can lead to a variety of health concerns for your family. It can also contribute to moisture in the basement, which can further damage your foundation and lead to costly repairs.
Uneven floors are another common symptom of a foundation problem. If you notice that the floor of your basement or crawl space is uneven, you’ll need to have it repaired as soon as possible. This type of unevenness can be unsafe for children and the elderly, as it increases the likelihood that they’ll trip or fall.
If your floor sags due to weakened support beams or joists in the crawl space, you’ll need to have these supports replaced. This is a fairly costly project, as each floor joist costs between $350 and $1,000.
Wall Repair
When a basement wall is bowed or leaning, it can create a serious structural problem. If left untreated, it can lead to severe and expensive damage throughout the home. Wall anchors and braces are installed to stabilize the walls and straighten them over time. The process is minimally invasive, and it requires the skills of trained professionals.
A cracked basement wall can be caused by numerous issues, including differential foundation settlement, soil erosion and inadequate construction techniques. The crack may also be the result of a leaky basement or water infiltration. If you notice cracks in your basement walls, it’s important to have a professional examine the area and determine the cause of the damage.
It’s important to avoid the temptation to try and patch a crack in your basement walls on your own. This will only delay the inevitable and potentially cause more serious damage down the line. It is necessary to contact a professional foundation repair contractor who can correctly diagnose and address the root cause of the damage.
If your basement walls are showing signs of bowing, a structural engineer can install carbon fiber reinforcement to stabilize the walls and prevent further movement. This is a cost-effective solution that’s extremely strong and long-lasting.
In some cases, helical tiebacks can be used to stabilize a basement wall and relieve pressure from the outside of the basement. These steel ties are inserted into the ground and then twisted until they reach a specific torque, stabilizing the wall.
For more severe cases of basement bowing, steel I-beams are used to reinforce and support the walls for more stability. This system redistributes the weight and pressure evenly, preventing potential problems from soil erosion, water seepage, hydrostatic pressure and frost heave.
Before any basement repairs are made, it’s important to clear out the work area to give your local foundation repair company access to the damaged areas of your basement. Any furniture, stored items or decorations that are within 10 feet of the work area should be moved to a safe location. In addition, any vehicles or equipment that may be parked near the area should be moved to another location so the crew has easy access.
Electrical Repair
Basement remodeling typically includes a lot of electrical work. This is a dangerous task to attempt on your own and is best left to the professionals.
Basement electrical work should be done before drywall is hung. This way, it is much easier to run wires and set up outlets and switches. It is also cheaper than tackling it after the drywall has been hung and the basement is already insulated and finished.
Whether you need to add more electrical outlets or you want to upgrade your lighting and switch wiring, our Utah licensed electricians can help. They will assess your needs and come up with a plan to get the job done correctly, quickly and within your budget.
Waterproofing is a critical part of basement repair because it prevents water from seeping in through foundation cracks. Water seepage is a common problem that can lead to extensive damage and even structural problems in the house. It can happen due to factors like foundation settling, hydrostatic pressure and freezing and thawing of the soil around the home’s foundation.
Waterproofing solutions such as French drains and sump pumps can be installed inside your home to manage the flow of water and keep it away from your basement. They can also be integrated with your home’s drainage system to protect the entire home from water infiltration and reduce the need for costly basement repairs.
Plumbing Repair
If you have a plumbing leak, call your local plumber. These highly skilled professionals install, repair and maintain water supply lines, appliances and fixtures in homes and businesses. They’ll fit new pipes, unclog drains, and fix broken sinks and faucets. They also handle sewer line clogs and pump out septic tanks.
The first step in finding the source of a basement leak is to trace its path using a moisture meter or visual inspection. Detecting the problem quickly can prevent extensive damage and save you money on repairs.
Leaks in basement walls and floors usually stem from plumbing problems, such as a failing water heater or damaged washing machine hose. But in many cases, water seepage is caused by hydrostatic pressure, a natural force exerted by groundwater against your home’s foundation. It can push through cracks and gaps in your basement walls, floor and foundation, leading to flooding and mold growth.
A professional plumber can identify the source of a basement leak and recommend a suitable waterproofing repair solution. In some cases, the problem is a simple fix like resealing the basement floor joint or installing a new drain in the floor or wall to stop water infiltration.
In other cases, the leak is deeper and more complicated to repair. This may require jackhammering through your concrete foundation to reach the break, misalignment or separation in the leaking pipe. This is expensive, messy and disruptive work that can leave your home surrounded by jackhammers, dirt and concrete debris.
Some homeowners call their plumbers to perform a basement waterproofing evaluation and estimate, but the plumber doesn’t recognize the source of the leak or the appropriate repair method. This can lead to a lot of wasted time and money, especially if the homeowner signs up for a waterproofing service that isn’t required or won’t solve their seepage problem. A basement waterproofing contractor will be honest about the root cause of the basement leak and recommend the right professional for the job.
How Does a Septic Tank Work?
As wastewater flows into the septic tank, bacteria decompose some solids. Heavy solids sink to form a sludge layer while oils and grease float to the top to become a scum layer.
The liquid waste in the middle, called effluent, exits through an outlet into a drain or absorption area (also known as a leach field). Bacteria in the drain field further treat the sewage and regenerate the soil. Click Here to learn more.
A septic tank is a buried, watertight container through which domestic wastewater flows for basic sewage treatment. It holds the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down and form sludge, while oil and grease float up to the top as scum. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from exiting the septic system and traveling into the drainfield area where it could cause soil contamination. The liquid wastewater (effluent) then exits the septic tank into the absorption field for further sewage treatment.
A baffle wall or divider separates compartments in your septic tank and keeps most floating scum and settled solids from clogging the inlet pipe. The opening on the inlet pipe is located about midway between the floor and the tank roof. The baffle wall also reduces agitation of the wastewater, which helps solids to settle faster and more thoroughly.
Wastewater leaves your septic tank through a perforated pipe that is buried in a drainfield, sometimes known as a soil absorption field or leachfield. The piping network distributes the wastewater into trenches that are spaced to match your home’s plumbing design and the size of the absorption field. The septic tank’s anaerobic digestion process eliminates fecal bacteria and organic material, and the soil absorbs and neutralizes any remaining toxins.
Your septic system is not designed to treat all of the contaminants in your wastewater. Those that remain must be eliminated from the septic system or removed from your house, usually by installing a treatment plant. The best way to keep your septic tank and absorption field in good condition is to limit your household wastewater usage.
Don’t construct structures, such as patios, decks, sheds, detached garages and above-ground or in-ground swimming pools over or near the septic tank and distribution box. Excess water can fill soil pore spaces, taking up valuable space needed for aeration and wastewater flow. Keep mowers, snowblowers and other equipment away from the septic tank and drainfield areas to prevent damage to your septic system and its components. Plant grass and other shallow-rooted plants over the absorption field. Keep children, pets and livestock away from the drainfield area.
Sludge Disposal
The wastewater inside the septic tank passes through screening chambers that strain out large debris such as branches, rags and plastics. The faecal matter that is too heavy to sink settles in the bottom of the tank, where it forms a layer known as sludge. Lighter solids such as fats and oils float to the top of the waste stream, where they are partially decomposed by bacteria into a clear layer of scum.
The liquid layer in the middle of the tank contains the rest of the wastewater, along with waste particles too small to sink. Bacteria do their best to break down these solids, but they can’t handle everything. Eventually, these solids accumulate to the point where they block the flow of wastewater through the system.
This is when it’s time to pump the septic tank. A professional will suck out the sludge and liquid waste, called septage, from the septic tank. The septage is then trucked away to a public or private wastewater treatment plant, where it goes through the same treatment process as standard municipal sewage.
When it comes to septic tanks, a regular desludging schedule is important to keep the system working properly. A septic tank’s sludge accumulation rate depends on the size of the tank, the occupant and how much is used in the household.
A new equation has been developed to define the optimum desludging frequency. It takes into account the average daily faecal production per person, tank size and occupancy and the amount of solids in the septic tank.
Septic tank sludge accumulation rates decrease over time. This means that the septic tank will require a desludging less often as the volume of solids decreases. The rate of solids accumulation also depends on how much is being put into the septic tank, including the use of garbage disposals. Heavy use of a disposal can lead to more scum formation and requires the tank to be pumped more frequently. In addition, the disposal of cigarette butts and other solid waste can increase scum and sludge formation. These things can also clog plumbing and cause the septic tank to need pumping more frequently.
Venting Gases
In a standard septic tank, a partially separated compartment is used to capture and decompose organic materials. Floating parts such as greasy substances and toilet paper remain in the first compartment while solids settle at the bottom of the tank, which is known as the sludge layer. Solids are broken down by microorganisms living in the septic tank. This is called aerobic digestion. This process releases gases, including hydrogen sulfide (known for its rotten egg smell) and methane. These gasses are then released through a vent. Venting the gasses is necessary for the safety of the house occupants and to prevent the build-up of pressure that could cause a pump failure in the wastewater system.
The septic tank is also an effective filter, keeping bacteria and other organisms from reaching the surface waters and groundwater. This is particularly important in shallow and sandy soil areas where it is possible for pathogenic bacteria to enter natural water sources.
A typical septic tank is made from concrete, though there are also models made of fiberglass and plastic. It is buried underground and designed to hold waste from a single household. The size of a septic tank depends on the number of bathrooms and bedrooms in a house.
Most septic tanks are rectangular and contain baffles to separate the wastewater from the sludge. The baffles are usually made of a durable material such as fiberglass or polyethylene. They have inspection ports over each one and are covered by a plastic lid that is about 4 inches in diameter. The tanks also have larger manholes for pumping.
In a septic tank, the sludge is a thick layer at the bottom of the tank. The sludge contains fats, oils and greases as well as solids from the toilet, dishwasher and kitchen sinks. The septic tank’s microorganisms break down these substances, which rise to the top of the wastewater. The sludge is then digested by the microorganisms and mixed into the sewage.
The wastewater from a septic tank flows into a drain field, which is a series of trenches filled with washed gravel or stone. The gravel provides a surface for natural filtration of the bacteria and other contaminants from the sewage. The drain field is connected to the septic tank through pipes, which are typically built of heavy-duty PVC or polyethylene. A pipe runs from the septic tank to vent odors and gases outside of the house. A septic system requires regular pumping, inspection, and maintenance by a professional septage waste transporter.
Pumping
Septic tanks provide a lot of convenience by eliminating the need to pay a water and sewer bill. However, they do come with added responsibilities. They must be pumped out regularly, and the septic system itself must be maintained properly. If you live in a house with a septic tank, then it’s crucial that you know the do’s and don’ts of your septic system to ensure that it works correctly and doesn’t cause problems for you or your neighbors.
Septic systems use a network of pipes to treat the wastewater that leaves your home. The piping network, also called the drain field or absorption field, is designed to percolate the wastewater into the soil where the bacteria work to remove any remaining impurities. This helps to clean the water that ultimately enters groundwater and surface water.
When raw wastewater enters the septic tank, it is mixed with the sludge layer and a floating scum layer. The tees that extend from the inlet and outlet ports of your septic tank create hydraulic pressure which pushes the sludge layer into the float box and the scum layer into the inlet port to prevent solid waste from entering your drain field. This allows the septic tank to operate efficiently.
If you’re concerned about the amount of solid waste that is entering your septic tank, have it pumped out before it gets too full. The frequency of pumping depends on a variety of factors, including tank size, household size, and waste generation rates. However, it’s recommended that you have your septic tank pumped every three to five years.
You can help extend the life of your septic system by only flushing septic-safe items down the toilets. This includes non-biodegradable products such as cigarette butts, cotton swabs and wipes, menstrual hygiene products, condoms, and pet waste. It’s also a good idea to avoid excessive water usage, as this can overload the septic tank and lead to wastewater overflowing into your home. Finally, keep trees and other large plants at least 30 metres away from the septic tank and soakaway area. This will reduce the risk of roots clogging the absorption field and reducing its effluent flow.