Do you know what’s going on in your crawl space? Not sure you want to know?

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Perma-Seal

While you may not want to think about it, you should be aware that what happens in your crawl space directly affects your family’s health and the value of your home.

The natural airflow of your house draws moisture, gasses and odors from the earth into your upstairs living environment. When it’s cold outside and your house is closed up, the odds are you’re breathing very unhealthy air. Did you know, studies have shown an open, untreated crawlspace can also rot your floor joists, breed mold and increase energy costs? You can transform your dirt or gravel crawl space into a healthy, useable, dry area of your home with our Crawl Space Encapsulation System. We can also add insulation…to help you save on those monthly energy bills. Continue reading →

Even Dry Basements Require Inspection

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Perma-Seal

At the beginning of every year, we like to hang up a brand new, empty calendar and start filling in those important dates to remember for the upcoming year. We always start with the fun and exciting dates, like anniversaries, birthdays and vacations. However, we also have to remember our yearly appointments to go to the dentist, get the furnace and air conditioning looked at, the fluids in our cars changed, and even your annual physical with your doctor.

While you are writing down all of the necessary things to be checked annually, do not forget about an important part of your home, your basement. A dry, healthy basement is a very valuable asset and is even more vital when you’re basement is finished. The small cost of maintaining your downstairs is nothing compared to the hassle and heartache of cleaning up after it has been flooded with a couple inches of water from a heavy rainstorm.

10 Point Annual Basement Inspection Program

Sewer Backup Prevention

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Perma-Seal

Ever experienced large amounts of standing water in your basement? Do you know where the water is coming from and how so much of it ended up in your home? If you noticed that the water came up through any plumbing fixtures in the basement or you have standing water over any floor drains, you are unfortunately experiencing municipal sewer backup.

It is very common during heavy rainstorms for municipal sanitary sewers to become overloaded with a higher volume of water than they can handle. And because most sewer systems are gravity fed, the result is excess water and sewage pushing back through your sewer line towards your home and into your basement and other low lying drains. Large amounts of sewage-contaminated water could be pushed through toilets, showers or floor drains. This will create a potentially dangerous and unhealthy environment in your home.

If you do experience large amounts of sewer backup into your basement, the first and most important thing to remember is DO NOT WALK IN or TOUCH any of the standing water! There is a risk of electrocution, so the power must be turned off first. You can protect your family and your home...

Fixing Your Basement In Winter

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Perma-Seal

During the cold, Chicago winter, most people don’t consider beginning a major project like basement waterproofing. Unless there is a large rain or snowmelt, your basement probably stays dry in the winter months. But did you know that this is the best time of the year to have your basement waterproofed? Read more about wintertime basement waterproofing