Three Temporary Fixes For Your Basement Water Problem
Rain, Rain, Go Away! That is the song that has been stuck in every homeowner's head this season. With major flooding and rain in our area, there seems to be no end in sight! More and more water has been trying to find places to go, streets, buildings, and worst of all your basement! Water is an uninvited guest! The MidAmerica Basement Systems Team is diligently working to keep up with all the calls coming in. We would love to be the permanent fix and bring you peace of mind with a clean and dry basement. For now, here are three quick, and temporary fixes to redirect the water until the experts can come to see you.
1. Quick Dam
A quick fix to absorb and divert the water is a Quick Dam. It is a ready to use product that requires no sand or labor. It is a durable, black fabric tunnel that is compactable and reusable over time. It creates a one-piece flood barrier that will protect garages, doorways, etc. Placement is crucial when it comes to the system because water can work its way around the tunnel and not go directly through it. The tunnels can be stacked on top of each other to create a higher barrier, but need to be placed correctly when stacking on top of each other or water will flow through the cracks of the stack creating a watery mess. This may not be an ideal solution for all situations, but can be a temporary fix to redirect water as it comes into the basement until a professional is able to come out to look and fix it.
2. Sandbag
A heavier option that can be used to aid flooding protection and also reduce water damage is a sandbag. Installing sandbags in the basement does not guarantee a water-tight seal. A sandbags job is to divert the water in a different direction, away from appliances and HVAC to prevent damage. Sandbags need to be properly filed with sand or material to keep water from getting into the blocked off basement area. They may take two or three people to properly fill with sand or material and is a little more labor intensive compared to others. It is an ideal solution for most situations but is a temporary fix to redirect water as it comes into the basement until a professional is able to come out to look and fix it.
3. Hydraulic Cement
An easy cover up for a leaking foundation walls and basement cement is hydraulic cement. Its job is to block water coming in cracked cement from the foundation walls or even the basement cement flooring. When applying hydraulic cement, the area must be clean from dirt and debris. It's an easy and quick installation and should be installed around the foundation and or pipes. This product is ideally applied to a dry area, which can be difficult when actively fighting water. For precautions, it is recommended to apply the cement with safety gloves and glasses. Once applied, it will be set within three to five minutes. It will dry a gray color and can be painted over. It is an ideal solution for horizontal or vertical cracks but is a temporary fix to keep water out of a basement for a short period of time until a professional is able to come out to look and fix it.
Keep in mind, these are only temporary fixes to an ongoing problem. These issues will not go away without expert help. For peace of mind, and a permanent fix to these issues, call MidAmerica Basement Systems. Visit www.midamericabasementsystems.com to read more, and see examples of permanent solutions to waterproofing problems. Call 1-800-541-8006 to schedule a FREE, no-obligation estimate.