Perma-Seal News and Information

Helpful Tips from Home Improvement Expert, Lou Manfredini

Are your floors feeling a little cold? It might be your untreated crawl space!

Up to 50% of the air in your home can come from below grade. Having a treated crawl space will help reduce that cost of your energy bill... and eventually pay for itself!

Do you have peace of mind that your home will be safe in the event of a major rainstorm? Perma-Seal has you covered! We put together a checklist and our recommendations to get your home, and yourself, ready for inclement weather that may lie ahead.

1. Have you tested your primary sump pump to ensure it’s working properly? You can do this by either slowly pouring water into the sump basin, or by lifting the float switch by hand for a few short seconds.
2. Do you have a battery backup sump pump? (If not, please contact us for a free estimate!) If your primary sump pump does not have power, it won’t be able to displace water when you need it the most and that’s where the battery backup comes in! To check your battery backup, locate the battery and verify that it’s charged.
3. Are your downspouts extended far enough away from your home’s foundation? Ensure your downspouts are extended between six and eight feet from the foundation of your home.
4. When was the last time you walked around your home’s foundation? While outside, clear debris from your window well drains, and make sure the window well covers are on tight.

Too much water around your home’s foundation commonly ends in seepage, flooding, loss of valuables, money, and your time. These wet conditions also create the unfortunate habitat for mold and mildew, which pose health concerns to you and your family. If you need help, call the experts at Perma-Seal for a free inspection at 800-421-7325.

The change of seasons can be tough on your home. When the soil expands and shrinks with each season, it causes uneven support for the foundation, which can lead to structural issues. Your house is not supposed to “settle,” and this “settling” may actually be an indication that your house is moving and shifting.

Take a look around. Do you notice any cracks in the corners of windows and doors, basement walls that are bowing or leaning, gaps forming along doorframes or baseboards, or stair stepping cracks along brickwork? Before you begin replacing those sticking windows or uneven doors, it’s a good idea to be sure it’s not a structural problem with your home. There’s no need to call an expensive structural engineer, when we can provide you with a FREE assessment. Just another way we are making your world a better place!

Whether you own a single-family home, or an apartment complex, there are plenty of helpful pieces of advice for homeowners. Here are ten tips you should know, especially as fall approaches with cooler weather. You may want to get these items checked off your to-do list, before the ground starts to freeze!