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Sump Pumps and How They Work

If your home is equipped with a sump pump, there usually is a good reason for it. The purpose of a sump pump is to collect water from around your foundation and redirect it away from your foundation. If it fails, you could end up with thousands of dollars of damage, potential foundation failures, and even mold problems if your basement floods.

There is another type of pump that you may find in your basement called a sewage lift pump. This is a sealed system that is used if the soil stack to the municipal sewer system or your septic system is higher than the floor of your basement. We will not be discussing this type of sump pump for the purpose of this article.

Where's that Rotten Egg Smell Coming From?

The incidence of "rotten egg" sulfur odors and often the resulting black water in hot and cold water lines is due to the reaction of sulfates and microorganisms in water. This can occur in the well directly, or in the household plumbing both hot and cold water pipes, or in only the water heater and hot water lines.

Vermiculite Insulation and Potential Health Concerns

According to the EPA, Some residential vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a mineral fiber. Asbestos fibers are long, thin, and very strong, yet flexible enough to be woven together. Until the 1970's, asbestos was commonly added to a variety of building materials to strengthen them, provide heat insulation and make them fire resistant. Although most products today do not contain asbestos, some older materials in your home may, including pipe and sprayed-on insulation, furnace ducts, floor tiles, and roofing and siding materials.

Ice Dams and their Effects on your Home

Ice dams form from the snow on your roof melting and freezing over a period of time. This could happen quite quickly if most of the snow on your roof is that really wet, heavy kind. Depending on your home, the temperature outside could be well below freezing when you notice the drip in your ceiling or down your walls.

Ice dams are caused when the snow your roof. If the water has no place to go, it will freeze usually at or above your eaves. This frozen mess will block any further melting and water begins to puddle at the dam caused by the ice. When this happens, water will back up under the shingles and find its way into your home. This can cause damage if it is not corrected.

Vent Your Attic and Protect Your Home

Many years ago it was thought that attic ventilation wasted energy. Many people make an effort to block the ventilation or opted to not install ventilation when their roofs were replaced. Since the 1980's, it was found that this practice can actually increase energy costs! Also, improper ventilation can