Could your house be slowly killing you? | Radon Mitigation & Information | Massachusetts
Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United States and Europe, likely responsible for tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year.
Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves.
Radon is by far American’s greatest risk of radiation exposure. See below:
The EPA recommends that a home’s radon level are below 4.0 Pc/L. Simple radon test kits are available at your local hardware store and are very inexpensive. If the results of your radon test are above 4.0 then we recommend that you have another test. If the average of the two tests are above 4.0 then the EPA recommends that a mitigation system be installed.
Radon mitigation systems are fairly inexpensive. Call 1-877-941-4733 for your Free Estimate for the installation of your radon mitigation system.
If you would like to learn more aboujt radon and radon mitigation systems go to http://www.greenbearinnovations.com/radon_mitigation.html
Wet Basement Waterproofing MA | Basement Waterproofing Green and Affordable
So how is Green Bear Innovations, Inc. going to help this industry go green?
We have aligned our corporate values with waterproofing industry experts and have come up with solutions to what we believe are flaws in the common designs of these wet basement systems. Most basement waterproofing companies train their installers to jackhammer the entire perimeter of the basement. This poses three major problems:
1. Jackammering a basement floor, or slab, with no detached edges causes a tremendous amount of stress and leads to microfractures in the remaining portion of the slab. Instead of having a wet basement or a flooding problem, now you could have a radon problem, as these microfractures turn into floor cracks.
2. The jagged edge that is created by the jackammer is NOT a clean cut. The cement is cracked in many directions including underneath the floor. When recementing is done, not only does it look terrible, but due to the fact that old concrete and new cement does not bond, in a year or two you may have efflourescence and maybe even mold seeping through where these two types of cement meet. (See below for more information about how Green Bear Innovations will ensure that his does not happen to you.)
3. Jackhammering is very labor intensive, time intensive and causes silica dust from the concrete to cover everything in your basement that is uncovered.
So what’s the solution? Green Bear Innovations, Inc. will first use a concrete saw to cut a straight edge around the basement perimeter through the entire slab. Once the perimeter cutting is complete, cross cuts will be made to section the waste concrete. A jackhammer, or hammer drill, will then be used to separate any stubborn slab pieces. Because the waste portion of the slab and the remaining basement floor are detached, there is no risk of floor cracking.
We mentioned above that we will ensure that efflourescence and mold will not seep through the separation made by this installation method. What GBI does is thoroughly clean and wash the cut edge and apply a cement bonding glue (SilPro) immediately before the re-cementing process begins. You will never have anything creeping through this man made separation in your basement floor.
Green Bear Innovations is dedicated to using recycled/recyclable materials during all installations. We use 3″ and 4″ HDPE perforated pipe which is 100% recyclable and in the near future recycled HDPE pipe will be available. We use as little PVC as we can. PVC is recyclable but remains the number one pollutant of our world’s oceans due to the extensive recycling processes required for reuse.
GBI has eliminated an entire days labor and more, not by cutting corners, but by reducing the need for river gravel and recycling much of the soil that is extracted from the trench. We wrap our pipe with a stone mesh made from recycled plastic and place recycled aggregate between the pipe and the mesh. This process eliminates the need for river gravel/processed stone and allows us to reuse the soil that was removed from the trench. Sandy and clay soils are mixed with clean fill before being used to ensue that water can freely enter the drain pipe.
Green Bear Innovations, Inc. offers energy efficient sump pumps and battery back up systems with all sub-slab basement drainage systems. We also offer foundation wall vapor barriers and drip moldings made from recycled materials.
In summary, GBI is innovating the basement waterproofing industry in many ways. Our industry experience and extensive research have helped us save the earth’s resources and save consumers money in a home improvement sector that is known for resource gluttony and unaffordability.
Visit http://www.greenbearinnovations.com for more innovative Home Improvement and basement waterproofing methods.
Wet Basement Waterproofing MA | Basement Perimeter Drain Basics
There are so many aspects to basement waterproofing but in this post I am going to focus solely on basement sub-slab perimeter drains (a.k.a. interior french drains).
The process for installing these drainage systems is designed to relieve the hydrostatic pressure under the basement floor. Properly designed drain systems will accept water into them at a depth and pace to ensure that the water level does not reach the bottom side of your basements floor, or slab. The result of a properly installed and free flowing sub-slab drain is a dry basement by eliminating seepage and future flooding.
The installation process involves removal of 8″-18″ of concrete around the interior perimeter of your basement, and/or in chosen water problem areas. A sump location must be chosen and dug out. All of the concrete must be removed and a trench must be dug 8″-12″ graded from a far high point to the sump location. The grade is a necessary step in order to properly pitch the drain pipe. Virtually every basement waterproofing company has their own company procedures for drain installation. The drain is installed, usually accompanied by large amounts of river gravel or processed stone, it is lead to a sump location and then the drain opening is closed up and recemented.
The sump pump(s) is installed and the discharge line(s) is fed to the outside of the building. Many companies offer drip moldings for the perimeter and vapor barriers so that water coming through wall-cracks and pipe penetrations can be collected in the drain below the floor. These are the main features of an interior french drain, though there are many other custom offerings from companies worldwide.
Visit http://www.greenbearinnovations.com for more innovative Home Improvement and basement waterproofing methods.
Wet Basement Waterproofing MA | Basement Humidity | Basement Dehumidifier | Santa Fe Dehumidifiers
Therma-Stor, LLC has been producing the highest quality dehumidification systems since 1977. With products available for your home and/or light industrial needs, the Santa Fe line of dehumidifiers has been many consumers preferred choice.
Santa Fe dehumidifiers are highly-efficient, large capacity units that not only handle high levels of moisture but also will cover a greater area than most machines. The company website contains thorough information about the different units available and coverage area recommendations for each unit, which I know from experience that their recommended coverage areas are on the low side. The basic models of the Santa Fe lineup can remove more than 100 pints of water per day in 100% moisture conditions.
The possibilites are endless with a Santa Fe dehumidifier. Styles range from furniture models (Santa Fe-RX) to the more basic crawlspace model (Santa Fe Compact). All units can be vented to/from other areas using vent kits which is great for a homeowner with a finished basement who wants to place the unit in a utility area. The Santa Fe dumidifier series NEVER has to be emptied. If you have an existing sump pump the unit’s discharge hose can be plugged into the sump and drains at will. No sump pump, no worries. The optional condensate pump packages give homeowners the ability to create a permanent discharge line that empties outside your home, like that of a typical central A/C unit.
Massachusetts residents call 1-877-941-4733 today for a Free Estimate and to learn about which Santa Fe dehumidifier is right for you. We offer Free installation with the purchase of any Santa Fe dehumidifier to all Massachusetts residents.
The most popular unit from Therma-stor is the Santa Fe Classic. It is the epitome of efficiency and is guaranteed to eliminate all basement mold and mildew problems. The Santa Fe Classic can remove over 100 pints of water per day in the harshest of humidity environments and will do so for the same operating costs, or less, as a typical store bought unit rated for 35 pints.
The Santa Fe Classic is a standalone unit and it can be set up with an optional vent kit and vented in/out of any area to ensure it removes humidity and provides fresh air throughout your basement. These units cost far less than traditional models per pint of water removed and hold the highest Energy Star rating available.
If you are interested in purchasing a Santa Fe dehumidifier call 1-877-944-4733 today. We offer free installation to all Massachusetts residents and free shipping to all other states in the United States.
Wet Basement Waterproofing MA | Where does basement moisture come from? Part 1
So now that you have realized that the moisture in your basement is a problem, how about we figure out how it got there in the first place. The simple and obvious answer to the question is “the ground”.
But it is not that simple!
Part of understanding basement moisture problems is understanding the building process and materials used during the construction of your home. The first thing I need to address here is that CONCRETE IS POROUS. When concrete (all concrete products) dries it does so from the outside in. What does that mean? That means that the outer portion of your foundation walls dried faster than the center throughout the thickness of the wall. What does this mean? This means that water is still evaporating out of the concrete as the outer surfaces are nearly dry leaving behind small pathways in which the moisture traveled. That is why the surface of the foundation wall sometimes looks like a sponge.
In reality, that is exactly what foundation walls are like. One big dry sponge. Get it wet enough for a long period of time and it will begin acting that way. Moisture will wick through the walls and into your basement if ground water conditions and interior conditions deem appropriate. Typically homeowners do not notice the moisture on the walls themselves in this case. Instead they may notice moisture beading up on plumbing pipes and other non-porous, cold surfaces. This is mostly noticed in the humid days during summer. Remember, the moisture had to come from somewhere, right?
High water table. What a “water table” actually is, is the level of the groundwater that is constantly underground on your property and specifically, in this case, under your foundation. This water level is usually not continuously higher than the footing of your foundation, although in rare cases it can be. Here is what usually happens in high water table areas.
Say the constant groundwater level is equal to one foot below the bottom of your homes foundation footing. Depending on the landscape of your property, nearby landscape elevations and underground obstructions for groundwater travel (in ground pools, wells, sewerage tanks) the rate of the rising water table varies significantly during snow melts and periods of rainfall.
Let’s use an extreme example. Say it has been raining hard for 36 hours and the groundwater level is not one foot ABOVE the top of the footing. That is an enormous amount of hydrostatic pressure surrounding your foundation and trying to force its way into your basement through the floor slab and the floor/wall joint. Over time this is exactly what happens. Year after year, all that water pressure makes new pathways (water always take the path of least resistance) and eventually causes moisture problems either through floor cracks or around the perimeter of the basement. This is called seepage. In severe cases water will form puddles in your basement.
Stay tuned for Part 2… To learn more now go to http://www.greenbearinnovations.com/wet_basement.html
Wet Basement Waterproofing MA | Basement moisture can be a mold breeding ground
Did you know that if you have a sensitivity to mold that your child has about a 33% chance of having a mold allergy? Now factor in whether your significant other has a mold allergy. If so, this boosts the chances for your child and/or children to be allergic to mold up to almost 75%.
Mold is everywhere. The way indoor mold testing works is a comparison between indoor levels and natural outdoor levels. The beginning of spring is poses a very high potential for mold both outdoors and indoors. Melting snow, warmer afternoons and cool mornings create a prime breeding ground for mold.
The first rule of thumb when considering whether you may have a mold problem or not is to use your senses. If you see it or smell it then it is usually there. Do not disregard that “basement smell.”
Basements are naturally inclined to higher levels of humidity than the rest of your home. Why? Because your basement acts as its own weather system. Small amounts of moisture trapped in an area with high pressure along with the natural cooling effect from the ground surrounding the foundation causes significant moisture levels to accumulate. This is usually easily noticeable in unfinished basements on cold water pipes and other metal or non-porous surfaces.
If you don’t see it then it can’t hurt you, right? WRONG. Finished basements are breeding grounds for mold. The problem is that many mold problems in finished basements go unnoticed for so long because the mold is hidden in wall cavities which, when built well, are pretty air tight. The biggest hazard in these situations is the amount of mold that grows in the wall cavities before it is noticed. The EPA states that a ten square foot area covered in mold is considered serious and should be professionally remediated. Nine times out of ten the coverage area of mold in finished basements is well over that limit.
So how do you know if you have a mold problem?
Do you see it?
Do you smell it?
Are people in the home complaining of headaches, shortness of breath or of flu/coldlike symptoms after being in a particular area of the home?
Was there a moisture problem? Pipe burst, leaky appliance, water intrusion due to heavy rain, etc.
If you need more information about mold testing or mold facts go to http://www.greenbearinnovations.com/mold_remediation.html
The key to mold control is moisture control. To learn more about controlling moisture in your basement go to http://www.greenbearinnovations.com/basement_waterproofing.html
Wet Basement Waterproofing MA | Before you choose a waterproofing company
Basement Waterproofing is made up of numerous installation procedures, products and materials. Some of the procedures include sump pump installation, sub-slab basement perimeter drainage (french drains), foundation crack repair, cinderblock and brick wall repair and repointing, spee-d channel grates (usually found in garages but also useful directly beneath bulkhead entries), wall vapor retarders, drip moldings, dehumidifiers…the list goes on.
What many companies ignore is the fact that over 50% of homes with Wet Basement problems are affected by rainwater and improper rainwater management. That’s why the experts at Green Bear Innovations, Inc. in Reading, MA have applied a “top-to-bottom” approach to wet basement analysis. The entire Water Management System of your home MUST be reviewed for flaws before you decide to get a basement waterproofing solution.
If your chosen Waterproofing Company does not even mention your gutters, downspouts and the possibility of landscape grading problems before offering you a “solution” take a pass and move on. A high percentage of waterproofing companies will tell you that the only way to solve the problm is to get a sump pump or a drain installed under the basement floor, especially larger companies that are not interested in actually helping you. I am not minimizing the effectiveness of sump pumps and sub-slab drains, they are VERY effective. BUT they are also VERY EXPENSIVE.
If your basement flooding issues happen immediately after heavy rains or only during snow melts, chances are that some changes to your gutters, downspouts and water dicharge lines could help and may eliminate the water problem altogether.