I thought I had a septic problem when my toilet and sink wasn't draining properly. This suspicion was confirmed when sewer water started backing up in my bathtub. I figured that this was a job for a professional, so I called a local sewer service company. Sure enough, my septic tank was full and this was causing the problem. After having my tank pumped out, my drains run freely and my toilet flushes better than it has in a long time. My name is Wesley Hammond and the experience that I had with my septic system is the reason that I'm writing this blog. Since sewage backup in the house is very unhealthy, everyone should be aware of the signs of a faulty septic system. As you read these articles, you'll learn about the different types of septic system problems and how you can keep them from happening.
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It is estimated that 60 percent of homes in the U.S. have a basement moisture problem. Whether your home is old or new, your home can have problems with water entering its basement. Water coming in through your home's foundation can be stressful and allow mold to grow, so it is best to prevent water from entering your basement. Here are three ways you can keep your home's basement dry.
Exterior Waterproofing Membrane
Some homes that have moisture problems in the basement because the home's roof runoff is not managed properly. Other homes are built on ground that has a high water table. Either problem can be fixed by excavating around your home's foundation and sealing the water out with a waterproof membrane. This waterproof membrane creates a barrier to seal water out of any cracks or holes in your foundation's exterior.
During the process, an excavation contractor will carefully dig away the soil around the perimeter of your home, exposing the foundation down to its base. The contractor will usually use a backhoe or other type of excavation equipment to remove the soil. Once the areas has been cleared, the waterproof barrier is sealed onto your home's foundation exterior.
Exterior French Drain
If your home basement's moisture problem is coming from rain water runoff accumulating around your home's foundation, you can install a french drain system around your home's foundation. A french drain system will collect water that would normally flow from the soil around your home through cracks and seams into your basement. Instead, the water will collect in the french drain pipe and dispersed away from your home.
First, you will need to dig a 12 inch-deep ditch around your home, next to the foundation, with a 10-foot length of ditch extending away from your home for drainage. Then, spread a layer of gravel two to three inches deep in the bottom of the ditch. Lay a continuous length of perforated drain pipe on top of the gravel. Cover the perforated pipe with a layer of gravel to fill the ditch and level out the ground around your home.
The perforated drainage pipe will collect water that flows around your home, preventing it from getting into your basement. As water floods the trench, it collects in the pipe and flows away from the house into the 10-foot drainage section.
Exterior Drain Well
An alternate way to help with roof runoff around your home is to install an underground pipe running from your home's roof downspouts out to a dry well buried in your yard.
You will need to dig a sloping trench in your yard from the bottom of your roof's downspout out at least 10 feet to a place in your yard. At the end of the trench, dig a 3 foot deep hole where you will place a tank to collect the runoff. You can find plastic drainage tanks for this purpose at most home improvement stores. The tank will contain drainage holes and is covered with polypropylene fabric to let water drain out but keep silt out.
Connect a PVC pipe from the downspout out to your drain well. Make sure the pipe slopes from your home to the well to help the water flow away from your home through the pipe. Most drain wells can handle runoff from a 500-square-foot section of your roof, so you may need to install one at each of your roof's corner downspouts. Then as the drain well collects water from the roof, it will seep out of the fabric into the surrounding soil.
These three techniques can help keep your home's basement dry.
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