Have you considered getting your home checked out by plumbing contractors and companies just before you wish to mortgage or sell the property off? If yes, this is something that most people do since the basement is one of the most neglected areas of a home. However, it could also cost you a pretty penny since last-minute damage control and repairs are not cheap.
The signs that your basement and home foundation needs some extra care start to show up, but get pushed back since they look minor. If you haven’t heard it already, “A stitch in time saves nine”. Similarly, repairs on time save you from paying hundreds, or thousands of dollars!
To avoid making the same mistake, we have created a plumbing checklist. You can use it as a quick study to detect leakages, cracks, and damage in your basement.
Plumbing Checklist
Watch Out For Cracks and Joints
The basement repair and maintenance teams will begin their inspection by searching for signs of obvious damage around the joints of the house’s foundation or crevices. They may detect a few different types of cracks, depending upon the age and condition of the property. The kinds of a contractor know to look for include:
- Vertical cracks: Vertical cracks form in the basement and foundation when the property is constructed using sub-standard or unsuitable materials for beam support.
- Horizontal cracks: Horizontal cracks develop in the foundation or basement if the structure has withstood a lot of constant hydrostatic pressure. This pressure tends to build up outside a house after rain.
- Stair-step cracks: In brick-and-mortar home foundations, hydrostatic pressure tends to force crack development adjacent to the mortar lines.
- Diagonal cracks: Diagonal cracks can occur for similar reasons as horizontal cracks. However, these cracks are wider on a side than the other. This happens due to one side of the home being exposed to a greater amount of hydrostatic pressure.
A crack in the basement reflects a foundational problem, but it doesn’t significantly imply there is a leak. A cracked basement, however, is more likely to leak. In an ongoing basement inspection, qualified experts can differentiate between a cracked and leaking basement by searching for water damage. Other signs of a leak in the basement to watch out for are:
- A drop in the basement temperature
- Windows misting up
- Doors that stick
- Damaged or warped items
- Mold formation
- Unpleasant odor
What is Your Sump Pump’s Condition?
If your home has not received a waterproofing solution yet, you may not have a sump pump that needs inspection. However, if you have a sump pump at the home premises, you need to conduct periodic and detailed checks. An adept basement repairman will insist to check up on the sump pump, even if there are no signs of a leak.
By checking up on the property’s sump pump, you will be able to understand how laborious the job is to work to prevent water from entering your home. Sometimes in an inclined property, a sump pump works harder than usual and needs some extra care. If the pump is acting weird suddenly, the inspector can detect blockages or other predicaments leading to the pump malfunctioning.
Signs to Spot Defective Plumbing Jobs
Basement repair workmen are not plumbers. But they are qualified to take a look at the plumbing job that was previously done. Pipes that may have ruptured or have sustained damages by extended exposure to moisture, can cause leaks in your basement. This can become potentially disastrous if not caught in time. Sometimes you may also find that equipment in the basement that may need repairs, such as the heater. Getting the help of a Denver water heater repair company will help mitigate any blockages in the pipes.
The pipes in the house basement can get damaged in a couple of ways. The pipes can either leak due to environmental or elemental disruption or could get clogged. The basement repair inspector is well equipped to find the leak without needing any extensive tools. However, if you have observed the water pressure of your house dropping at irregular times, inform them immediately. The inspector or contractor will run tests on the water pressure in the house to find the point of damage.
Find Signs of Inadequate Insulation
Insulation has more benefits than just retaining heat in your house during winters. It also is a barrier between the house and the external environment. Insulation helps to keep pests, and water far away from your property and personal belongings. For the same reasons, it is prudent to check up on your home insulation so that your home value stays maintained.
if the insulation is to be replaced based on visual inspection. However, if you think that mold could have been collected in the insulation, inform the inspector. Checking for mold and immediate removal requires special tools that the inspector can carry if he has been informed in advance.
Foundational and Structural Defects
Basement repair jobbers will check closely near the footing and foundation of a home. This is true even if the main concern is to leak into the basement. It can happen that leaks that appear to be on the surface turn out to be more adverse than expected. The inspector will tell you if the property is structurally secure. He will also give you a rundown of the next procedures if things are not.
Past Basement Waterproofing
If you have previously hired a basement waterproofing business, it’s a good idea to work with an inspector from the same company. This makes it simpler to check the waterproofing solutions installed while a basement inspection.
Some of the waterproofing solutions utilized are permanent. French drains require repair for parts, while temporary sealants need replacing. Even drainage tiles get damaged if they work overtime.
Final Thoughts on a Plumbing Checklist
When you use this checklist along with the help of a qualified plumbing and basement inspector, you ensure that none of the most important aspects are skipped out on. Essentially, you’re investing to safeguard the quality of life and the condition of your home. It can serve you well into the future, or offer a great selling price in the real estate market.