Respectable Basement and Crawl Space Waterproofing Experts in Loudoun County, Virginia

An effective sump pump is needed to collect and discharge water that accumulates under your home, protecting it from standing water, flooding, and other sources of unwanted water. However, to ensure that your sump pump will continue to work properly and efficiently, it is crucial to have a sufficient discharge line in place. If your discharge line is too close to the home, or is inlaid on a upward slope, the expelled water could reaccumulate back under the foundation and result in overworking the sump pump. Having a discharge pipe that extends out and slopes down from the house ensures that the collected water from the sump pump is expelled far enough from the home and will not pool under the foundation again. Sometimes, this means having to modify exterior structures and landscaping, or getting creative about where and how to lay down the discharge line. 

As a standard, the 3 Pros Basement Systems team installs at least 10 feet of 3 inch thick discharge pipe, extending away and sloping down from the home. We work directly with our customers to understand where and how to best inlay this piping on their property and accommodate to environmental or structural obstacles. 

Sometimes, even a new finished basement can still have moisture-related issues. A homeowner in Dulles, VA contacted the 3 Pros team because they were frustrated with the results of their finished basement. They were still experiencing musty odors and dampness, and their cinder block foundation showed evidence of efflorescence. Efflorescence is when salt migrates and settles on a porous material, creating a chalky white coating. Efflorescence indicates the prescence of moisture within the walls - as water moves over and through the foundation, the salts it contains are left behind. In this situation, the culprit turned out to be an unfinished area, adjacent to the basement, that housed the home's HVAC unit and hot water heater. The 3 Pros solution was to install a sub-floor drainage system in the basement to prevent any further moisture seepage. Sometimes, even a finished basement still has hidden issues!

The Case for Basement Waterproofing from the Inside.

Water intrusion into basements is one of the most destructive problems that you can have in a home.  Mold, Rot, Rusted appliances /mechanical systems, Odors, and other related problems caused by high humidity throughout the house are the issues that can result.

Waterproofing in the modern era is generally done from inside the home.  You may ask yourself why.  This article articulates my thoughts on the topic.

#1 Cost: Attempting to eliminate water intrusion from outside the home is generally very expensive and labor consuming.  The crew attempting to do this work would be damaging mature landscaping, may have to dig trenches around the effected perimeter of the home using heavy equipment or by hand.  This excavation process could further damage the home’s foundation.  Hardscapes are in the way and may require elimination or extensive damage to install the water proofing solution.  The combination of expensive collateral damage and the cost of damaging land and hardscapes create extensive cost..

#2 Disruption:  All construction projects at your home are disruptive.  Projects that include extensive excavation and moving land are particularly disruptive and unpredictable.  The weather may lead to periods of time where no work can be done due to rain or freezing weather.  Inside systems can be installed with a great deal of reliability and consistency.  Interior systems generally represent a project, that when properly staffed, can move from inception to completion in just a few days.

#3 Reliability: Interior French Drains and Vapor/Water Screen systems like those used in Basement Systems Designed waterproofing systems are reliable and maintainable.  Exterior French drains are subject to environmental conditions that are more difficult to control.  The location of exterior French drains make them virtually impossible to maintain over the lifetime of the property.  For this reason, modern day waterproofers generally design and install interior systems.

While maintenance of gutters and grade and any drain system that you can take care of is important in taking care of the integrity of your home and it’s ability to keep water out, the corrective actions required to resolve problems is best left to systems designed for the inside of the building.

Call 3 Pros Basement Systems to have them design for you a world class water proofing system using Basement Systems designs.  

We've all seen the pink or yellow 'cotton candy' insulation - here's why it needs to go from your crawl space, ASAP.

1. It can be a serious health risk if it absorbs excess moisture.

Crawl spaces tend to be damp, humid, and dark places - perfect for mold growth. While your fiberglass insulation is not going to directly grow mold, it will develop dirt or collect animal droppings and these will grow mold. Especially if there is the presence of pest droppings, this increases the risk of toxic spores being exposed to open air which in turn will vent into your home.

2. It is structurally not ideal for crawl spaces.

Fiberglass insulation is meant to be installed between walls and really isn't supposed to be directly exposed. In many damp crawl spaces and basements, we find fiberglass insulation literally hanging down or falling off walls and ceilings. 

3. If and when your fiberglass crawl space insulation absorbs water, it will drastically decrease in efficiency and effectiveness. 

Insulation is meant to do exactly what its name suggests: insulate! When this type of insulation gets wet and soggy, it does not properly function and can lead to disregulated temperatures - too hot and humid in the summer and too cold in the winter. This leads to higher energy bills and a larger carbon footprint.

The 3 Pros team recommends our CleanSpace encapsulation system. 

Seasonal allergies are something we are all used to when spring and summer roll around here in Northern, VA. Especially with everyone staying home and indoors, there is no time like the present to evaluate if the air in your home is healthy for your family. Common side effects of poor or contaminated air quality include excessive coughing, sneezing, or runny nose, stale odors, and mold or mildew growth. Before calling a professional to come evaluate and fix the issues, here are a few things you can do to prepare.

Rule out if your crawl space is the issue

If your crawl space has moisture, mold growth, or has been exposed to other allergens like dirt, rot, or pests, than you might notice bad odors, increased humidity, soft floors, or even more mold upstairs. Symptoms of a wet crawl space can sometimes be mistaken for other household issues, but once it's determined that the crawl space needs help, encapsulation with our CleanSpace system is a fantastic long term solution.

Check to see if you have any leaking windows

This may sound like a no-brainer, but humid air has a knack for seeping in even the smallest cracks. With high pollen levels and extreme humidity, even the smallest leak could mean compromised air quality in your home.

Check any air filters you have in your HVAC unit

Would you put your face up to and breathe into a soggy or moldy or otherwise damaged filter? No way! Well that's exactly what happens if you're AC filters are dirty. Sometimes, they might even be dirty from mold spores traveling through the vents from your crawl space. It also can be from wear and tear, so be sure to get them changed at least once a year.

Keep your humidity levels in check

We all know the struggles of high humidity, both indoors and outside, and most of the time we wish it was drier. However, did you know that we actually need humidity (particularly on our top floors) to maintain healthy air quality in our home? While it's important to keep your basement and crawl space free of moisture, make sure you aren't overdrying your home. Too little humidity can cause air conditions that trigger dry coughs and skin. A small-sized humidifier can help with this, but be sure to check the filters to avoid what we just mentioned!

Check your insulation, especially in your crawl space...

And if it's fiberglass, ditch it! Fiberglass insulation (the yellow and pink 'cotton candy') is fine for areas of the home that are enclosed by walls, but it bodes poorly in crawl spaces where it's exposed directly to the elements. It's super absorbent of both water and dirt - both which lead to mold growth. If you see that your crawl space or basement insulation is discolored, distended, or falling out of the walls/ceilings, it's time to get rid of it for the sake of your health, comfort, and home efficiency.

All of these issues are things that the 3 Pros team can help with, whether it's a direct solution or a trusted referral. If you are having any of these problems, give us a call today.

Mold is not something that should be ignored or downplayed if it is growing in your home, especially in your crawl space or basement. While there are various types of mold with various levels (if any) of toxicity, it is always a good idea to do your best to remove it and prevent it from growing. Mold requires moisture, an organic substance, and ideally dark conditions in order to grow and survive, so if you are able to mitigate the possibility of those three factors, it should help stop it in its tracks. A great way to start is to install a dehumidification system, such as the SaniDry Sedona, to remove moisture from the air of your crawl space. Another option is to remove any fiberglass insulation in your crawl space and replace it with a sealed encapsulation system, such as CleanSpace. For best performance, both options should be combined. Regardless, once there is mold in your crawl space, it will be losing battle until you fix the source of the moisture.

A crawl space insulation project in Lincoln, VA took an unexpected turn when we came across a live snake in the crawl. Based on the pictures, we think it is a copperhead - a venomous snake found in Northern VA. Our team is used to finding dead critters and snake skins, but it's not often we come across one that's still slithering! If you think your crawl space needs some work done, call in the Pros to avoid coming across one of these guys yourself.

A finished basement can be a wonderful addition to any home. It can provide extra usable space, but there are other reasons that finishing your basement can improve your home.

1. Finished basements improve the health and comfort of your home. An unfinished basement is prone to damp conditions, especially in Northern Virginia. Moisture can lead to mold and mildew, and it can make the basement feel clammy. An insulated, finished basement will regulate temperatures and conditions just like the rest of the home - so now it can be used just like the rest of the home!

2. Finished basements contribute to lower energy bills. When your basement is insulated and sealed, there are no longer escape and entry points for outside air. Air leakage can cause HVAC units to work "overtime" because the conditioned air escapes and must be replaced. With less AC/heating running, energy bills lessen as well.

3. Finished basements can be living spaces. A finished basement can provide an extra bedroom or storage space, now that it is dry and comfortable.

4. Finished basements add value to the home. Extra usable square footage or even an extra bedroom adds value to any home. A basement remodel project can yield up to a 70% return on investment. 

A home in Aldie, VA had water seeping into the basement over a long period of time. It was causing damage to the floors, walls, and the homeowner's personal items. The homeowner wanted a solution so they could use the space for storage, and not have to worry about the smell of destruction. They posted about the problem on their neighborhood Facebook group and their neighbors recommended us at 3 Pros Basement Systems. Our Sales Professional, Carl, went out to the house and thoroughly explained the solution to their issue. After a contract was signed, our production crew got to work. ThermalDry Wall Insulation was installed to capture any moisture or water that may seep through and direct it into the installed WaterGuard interior basement drain system. The WaterGuard then directs the water into the newly placed SuperSump Premier Sump Pump System, where it is pushed out and away from the home. This waterproofing system was used around the entire basement perimeter to ensure there is no more water leakage. The homeowner was very satisfied with the work done and, because they are confident that their basement will stay dry at all times, they are now planning to refinish their basement and use it for many years to come. 

Homeowners in Ashburn, VA had a problem in their finished basement. Water was seeping into the basement and ruining everything! The finished walls and floors were getting destroyed by groundwater seepage. As the water levels grew higher, more and more of the homeowner's belongings got damaged. The basement, over time, had become an unhealthy and unusable space. The customer called 3 Pros Basement Systems and arranged to have a waterproofing specialist examine their home. Our sales professional went out to the home to assess the situation. He examined the parts of the basement that were leaking water and put a plan together to stop the groundwater seepage. Our crew installed ThermalDry Wall System to collect all of the water seepage and any water that was evaporating through the foundation walls. Then they installed WaterGuard so that all of the trapped water could funnel into it and be drained towards our SmartSump system. TrenchDrain was used to capture any surface water that may leak through the walkout door too. Our customers were thrilled! They now had their basement back and knew that it would never flood again.