Family Living Focus
Robert J. Thee, PhJ>.
Extension Agent
Housing and
Family Resource
Management
WET BASEMENTS
Although it’s early March, we
could still have a lot of winter
weather left But the optimist in me
is hoping for an early spring this
year.
With spring, however, come
rains and wet or even flooded base
ments. Some of you have already
had to deal with the flooded base
ments this year.
What can you do to prevent wet
basements? The most effective
thing to do is to prevent the water
from getting in to begin with. Start
with the easy things to check or do.
Are the gutters and downspouts
dear? If not, then clean out the
debris left over from last fall and
the winter.
;r tractors to get your wot
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C.J. WONSIDLER HERNLEY’S FARM
1975 Trumbauorsville Rd EQUIPMENT, INC.
1 2095 S. Market St.
(2151 536-193 S Elizabethtown, PA
Routes 309 & 100 (717) 367-M67
New Tripoli, PA 18066 ' '
(610)767-7611 LAWN CARE OF PA
D.W. OGG Martindale, PA 17549
EQUIPMENT CO. (717)445*541
SSSSoSmi LEBANON VALLEY
(301) 473-4250 IMPLEMENT CO.
Westminster, MD 700 E. Linden St.
Ml 0)846-4585 Richland, PA 17087
ECKROTH BROS.
FARM EQUIPMENT M.M. WEAVER & SON
RD #2, Box 24A N - Groffdale Rd.
New Ringgold, PA 17960 PAJ 7540
(717) 943-2131 (717) 656-2321
4910 Kernsville Rd. MEYERS
°(6i0)3^2095 9 IMPLEMENTS, INC.
• 40° North Antrim Way
307 Edgar Ave. Qreencastle, PA 17225
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (717) 507-2176
(717)764-5217 *
Consider installing a protective
screen or other device to protect
the leaves from accumulating. Ici
cles hanging from the gutters may
have pulled them loose or bent
them out of shape so that the water
spills over or (toes not flow to the
downspout
Are the downspouts just dump
ing the water along the founda
tion? Use a splash block at the base
of the downspout to prevent ero
sion of soil and to help direct the
water away from the house.
Next check the grading around
the house. The land surrounding
the house should slope away from
the foundation to direct the water
away from the house. From the
foundation to approximately six
feet away, the surface should slope
1230 1240 1230 124
25 23 30 V
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& SERVICE
Oakland Mills, PA 17076
(717) 463-2735
away at the rale of 1 inch per foot
The remainder of die yard should
slope away at the rate of at least
one foot per 25 feet
Window wells should extend at
least two inches above ground
level, with the well bottom con
structed to permit good drainage.
Any low spots that pond water
within 10 feet of the basement wall
Should be filled Or surface drainage
provided. Decorative borders or
edging around foundation plant
ings often trap and hold water
against the foundation or divert it
into the window wells. Proper
drainage should be provided.
Driveways, sidewalks, and
patios should slope away from the
foundation because of the amount
of runoff they accumulate.
If a home is adjacent to land
higher in elevation, it may be
necessary to divert the runoff by a
grass-lined ditch or terrace.
Problems caused by subsurface
water are generally more serious in
nature and frequently require pro
fessional assistance. Quite often
subsurface water that is putting
pressure on basement walls must
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1462 River Rd. (Rte. 29)
Titusville, NJ 08560
(609) 737-7400
(908) 782-2244
MILLER
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Stauffer Road
Bechtelsville, PA 19505
FRANK RYMON&
SONS, INC.
399 Route 31 South
Washington, NJ 07882
(908)689-1464
SCHREFFLER
EQUIPMENT
Pitman, PA 17964
(717) 648-1120
S.G. LEWIS
AND SON
West Grove, PA 19390
(610) 869-9440
(610) 869-2214
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be removed by a subsurface drain.
Generally, the drain should be at
least four inches in diameter and
covered with several inches of
gravel. It may be possible to con
struct the subsurface drain in such
a way that it empties on the
surface.
For damp spots in the basement
that are not condensation, the wall
can be painted inside with a water
proof cement paint If possible, it
should be applied when there is no
active leakage through the wall.
Existing cracks should be filled
before painting. "
For severe problems, the most
effective water proofing treatment
is one which goes on the outside of
the house. Unless installed during
construction, however, digging a
trench around the house to install a
waterproof membrane or coating
can be both expensive and danger
ous. Water that makes its way to
the foundation can push up against
the membrane, but the foundation
wall is behind it preventing the
water from pushing its way
through. On the other hand, a
waterproofing coating or mem
brane installed in the inside has
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HEWEY WELDING
Box 2312, RD4 Lebanon, PA 17042 (717)867-5222
Lancaster Faming, Saturday, March 16,1M6-BS
only air on the other side. It is,
therefore, generally effective only
for miner leaks.
Another approach is to accept
the fact that the water is going to
get into the basement and to put a
channel around the perimeter wall
of the basement directing the water
to the sump pump.
For minor problems, a dehumid
ifier may be sufficient. For a dehu
midifier to work effectively, it
should be located in an enclosed
room or area so that a constant new
supply of humid air is avoided.
Provide adequate space for air to
circulate around the dehumidifier.
The capacity of a dehumidifier is
measured in pints of water
removed from the air in a 24 hour
period. Select a dehumidifier with
a capacity appropriate to the room
size and degree of dampness.
Each situation has its own set of
unique conditions. Every home
owner can inspect his or her base
ment, foundation, and surface
drainage to identify the likely
cause of the problem. Many prob
lems with wet basements can be
dealt with through a few simple
preventative measures.
C.S. Supply
RO 1, Mill Hall, PA 17751
717-726-6760