Crawl Space Plumbing Leaks
When Crawl Space Plumbing Fails -- And How To Protect Yourself
It's not as bad as it looks! Our experts can often waterproof, dry, and seal a crawl space in less than a day.
Our vapor barrier is warranted for 25 years! You'll love what we can do for your home!
More about Crawl Space Waterproofing
Unless a plumbing failure is extreme, a homeowner may not realize that their plumbing is leaking into their crawl space at all until it's been going on for months, or even years.
No matter where it occurs in the home (or where it's coming from), issues with flooding and leaking should always be addressed right away.
In a crawl space, unchecked flooding from a plumbing leak can lead to many serious issues, including damage to structural wood, ruined fiberglass insulation, rodent or pest infestations, and foul odors that rise into the home.
Addressing Plumbing Leaks In A Crawl Space
Once discovered, most plumbing leaks can be repaired easily enough. The damage they cause, however, can be very extensive. Repairs should be made as soon as possible. Waiting too long can lead to more serious issues -- structural repairs may even be necessary!
Once the repairs are made, you'll want to make sure that you never have this kind of problem again. That's where we come in!
At Basement Systems, we specialize in basement and crawl space environments -- it's what we do every day! We have a wide variety of high-quality, warranted solutions that can help make any crawl space dry all the time!
Our dealers offer homeowners within their service area free, no-obligation crawl space repair estimates! Contact us by phone or e-mail today, and we'll connect you with your local, certified Basement Systems Dealer!
But I Never Go In The Crawl Space! Why Should I Care If It's Flooding?
Most homeowners know that their crawl space is moldy, rotting, and generally unpleasant, and they avoid entering the space whenever possible. And it's no great loss -- there's not much down there anyways.
However, your home is a system, and a crawl space is one important part of that system. It plays a major role in how healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient your home is. Sooner or later, if you don't repair the damage, the damage comes to you.
What follows are four ways that a flooding crawl space can affect your home:
Damaged Structural Wood
If structural wood is subjected to long-term exposure to moisture, it will support mold, wet rot, and dry rot.
Symptoms of structurally damaged wood include sagging floors, jamming doors, musty smells, and cracks in drywall.
The Solution:
Installing crawl space jacks and sealing the crawl space are a great start to repairing and restoring this damage. A complete repair can often be conducted by contractors in less than a day's time.
More about Repairing Damaged Crawl Space Wood
Ruined Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation's loose, cottony material will soak up moisture and humidity with ease. Moisture from even a slow plumbing leak can easily be absorbed and stored within the materials.
The Solution:
Wet fiberglass compresses and loses its insular value. All fiberglass insulation should be completely removed, as it will now support bacteria, mold, and other microbial growth. Install new waterproof insulation on the walls and floors of the crawl space for a permanent solution.
More about Ruined Fiberglass Insulation
Rodents & Pests
A plumbing leak (especially a long-term one) provides a source of moisture and/or water for any number of rodents and pests. They're more than happy to live, die, and breed within your home.
Once rotting, the wood becomes acceptable food for termites, carpenter ants, and a variety of other wood-destroying insects.
The Solution:
Seal and dry your crawl space. A dehumidifier will keep the space dry, while a crawl space liner deters entrance.
More about Crawl Space Pests
Foul Odors
Due to the upward movement of air in your home (known as the stack effect), it won't take long for foul odors in your crawl space to enter your living space.
These foul odors are just half of the problem. The air can also contain mold spores, dust mite waste, and many other known allergens.
The Solution:
Seal your crawl space with a plastic liner. Install a dehumidifier that includes an air filter that can remove these unwanted allergens and maintain a dry space.
More about Musty Crawl Space Odors
Sewage Leaks In Crawl Spaces
Sewage leaks can occur in a crawl space for many reasons and can range from a small leak in the liner to a corroded pipe, like the iron one above.
They can turn a crawl space into a breeding ground for a wide variety of health-damaging organisms.
Protect Yourself From Plumbing Leaks
At Basement Systems, our dealers use three products to protect you from plumbing leaks:
Crawl Space Floor Drains
If your crawl space is sealed and does not experience groundwater flooding, our SmartDrain™™ System is ideal. A ball-and cup drain collects leaking water, while maintaining the airtight seal created by the vapor barrier system.
Crawl Space Sump Pump Systems
Our SmartSump™™ Sump Pump System is able to eliminate water from both plumbing leaks and groundwater flooding. With the same ball-and-cup system, the water is pumped away through a discharge line that's buried in the yard.
Flood Alarms
Both the SmartDrain™ and SmartSump™ include our WaterWatch® Alarm System. This unique alarm system sounds off when water is detected, and can even be connected to your home alarm system -- so you get a phone call if there's an issue!
We Can End Your Crawl Space Moisture Problems!
We've repaired hundreds of thousands of crawl spaces and basements worldwide, and we can bring the same training, experience, and warranted products to your door!
To schedule a free, no-obligation crawl space repair estimate with your local authorized Basement Systems Dealer, contact us by phone or e-mail today!
Each free estimate includes the following:
An On-Site Inspection: One of our professionals will take a look at your crawl space and identify all issues with the space. We'll measure the space and lay it out on our software program.
A Professional Consultation: We'll explain everything that's going on with your crawl space, and describe the likely causes of the issues. We'll also make recommendations for the best options for repairing your crawl space.
Your Custom Cost Estimate: We'll customize a system based on your personal needs for your crawl space (insulation, waterproofing, encapsulation, etc). We provide a estimate in writing, provided by our custom-made software system.
Our dealers proudly serve throughout Canada and the United States -- we're standing by in your local neighborhood to help you!
Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.