Basement Waterproofing & Crawl Space Repair Professionals in Mc Lean, VA

A couple in Great Falls was experiencing moisture pooling in their crawl space. They needed a vapor barrier to help keep this water out. Looking for the right company for the job, they came across a 3 Pros Basement Systems truck while on their way home from work. They called us soon after to set up an appointment for a free evaluation and estimate. After meeting with one of our experts, they chose to go ahead and have us install a proper vapor barrier for them. Our crew arrived and began installing the vapor barrier by laying down a Drainage Matting. This mat lays against the wall/floor joints around the inside perimeter of the crawl space. This is where most of the water coming in will collect and the mat allows the water time to drain without reaching the interior of the crawl space. Next, we installed our CleanSpace liner. This is a 20 mil thick, 7-layer polyethylene composition, with polyester cord reinforcement. It covers everything in the crawl space except for the ceiling and locks out any moisture trying to find its way in. No moisture is going to be entering this space from the outside anymore. Now this couple has a dry, useable crawl space thanks to CleanSpace. 

After some neighboring construction happened, Aaron, a McLean homeowner, began to experience water problems in his finished basement. Without a drain in the space, he had almost no way of solving this problem. He did a search on the internet and found us at 3 Pros Basement Systems. He called right away and scheduled his free estimate. Aaron soon sat down with one of our sales representatives to talk over his options and decided on a solution to waterproof the space. Our installation crew arrived at the home a few weeks later and were tasked with giving the space proper drainage. To achieve this, a TripleSafe pump was installed on the floor of the basement. The TripleSafe device houses three sump pumps within itself. The first pump works to remove the majority of the collected water. The secondary pump remains idle until either the primary pump fails or cannot handle the current amount of water needing to be removed. Only then, does it activate to increase the flow of water exiting the home? The third pump is a battery-operated backup pump that will activate in the event of a power outage, maintaining a dry basement even when the home is without power. The water exits the home through a PVC discharge line that carries the water a distance from the home. Just beyond where this line exits the house, and IceGuard pipe segment was intersected with the discharge line. The IceGuard piece has special upward-facing holes that only allow trapped water to escape the line. This protects the basement from flooding in the event of a blockage of ice or other debris in the line. Finally, a LawnScape discharge port was attached to the end of the line. This piece has a grate covering the bottom end of the pipe, blocking most debris from entering the line from the end, while allowing the water to flow out onto the lawn away from the house. Now that Aaron has a functioning sump pump system below his home, he no longer needs to fear a flooding basement, causing damage to his property. The newly installed TripleSafe sump pump will ensure this basement stays dry for years to come! 

Repairing a damaged or dirt floor crawl space offers many benefits to the overall health and comfort of your home. There are 4 steps to completely eradicate the negative effects that the crawl space might be causing, including high humidity, musty odors, or floors that are too cold. 

Step 1: Fix Water Issues (Damage/Leakage)

Usually the first part of this step is to install a sump pump in the crawl space. To install a sump pump, our team digs a hole at the low spot of the crawl space. Any water leakage will naturally flow down to the low spot. With the sump pump installed, any water leakage will be pumped out of the crawl space instead of pooling and contributing to humidity levels and mold growth. 

Step 2: Get The Home Separated From The Earth

Once water leakage has been addressed, the next thing to do is deal with the effects of exposed earth. This can include water vapor, mold, and the intrusion of pests. Crawl space encapsulation is the way we accomplish this. We use CleanSpace, a 20 mil thick plastic liner. The CleanSpace is sealed to the upper part of the wall, around any obstructions, and at the seams. This fully waterproofs the crawl space, and actually has antimicrobial properties too!

Step 3: Seal The Crawl Space From Outside Air

Now that the crawl space will no longer have water leakage issues, it's time to address another source of moisture: air vents. Some crawl spaces have vents that are directly open to the outside. On hot summer days, this means excessively humid air is able to enter the crawl space. This is done by sealing the vents with covers or an access door if needed. 

Step 4: Dehumdify

The final step to ensuring that a crawl space will stay dry and fully conditioned is to install a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier eliminates condensation in the air that could contribute to mold growth or water damage. 

With a completely dry crawl space, a home now has additional space for storage. Most importantly, the energy efficiency, health, and comfort of the home are permanently improved.