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To maintain the safety and energy efficiency of your basement,
it is important that
your home maintenance program
include the proper maintenance for your basement.
Basements are the rooms of a house or building
which are below ground level. Basements are important
to the structural integrity of the house or building.
Basement insulation is usually within ceilings and sometimes
the walls. Typically, heating and air conditioning equipment
is located in the basement. See also: Pest
Control, Furnaces,
and Water
Heaters.
Shown in the "Maintenance" tab above are the recommended routine maintenance tasks for your basement. The "Questions / Answers" tab above shows our answers to related questions. And the "Articles" tab above provides links to related informational articles and sources.
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Maintenance
Task #1:
Remove debris from
basement window wells |
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How do you remove debris from basement
window wells? |
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The window well areas
should be cleaned of any debris such as leaves or dirt that
has accumulated down in the window wells. Also check for
any evidence of termite damage, even if the foundation is concrete.
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Why is it important to remove debris
from basement window wells? |
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As debris builds up
in this area, it can lead to such problems as: leaking
windows; nests for insects; window corrosion; etc |
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How
often should you remove debris from basement window wells? |
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These
window wells should be cleaned out in November after leaves
have fallen, and then checked again in April prior to
the summer when insects and pests can be a problem. |
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How
does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task? |
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The
cost of this task is very low. It is estimated that
this task should only take about 30 minutes to complete, and the
task is relatively easy to do. No specialized tools are
required. |
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The
benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing
this task can help prevent serious damage by water and pests,
including termites, which can be very costly to eliminate and
repair damage from. |
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Overall
Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and
four 'hats' = high): |
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Maintenance
Task #2:
Check basement for
dampness, leaks or cracks |
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How do you check your basement
for dampness, leaks or cracks? |
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After a large rainfall, inspect walls
and floors for any signs of excessive moisture, leaks, cracked
or broken floors, or cracked walls. Pay special attention
to the joint where the wall meets the floor, as this is where
most basement leaks develop. |
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Why is it important to check your
basement for dampness, leaks or cracks? |
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Leaks and cracks can
lead to major basement damage from flooding. |
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How
often should you check your basement for dampness, leaks or cracks? |
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The
basement should be inspected annually in May. |
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How
does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task? |
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The
cost of this task is very low. It is estimated that
this task should only take about 30 minutes to complete, and the
task is relatively easy to do. Depending on how your basement
is finished, you may need a flashlight to do parts of your inspection. |
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The
benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing
this task can help prevent serious damage by water and pests,
including termites, which can be very costly to eliminate and
repair damage from. |
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Overall
Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and
four 'hats' = high): |
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Maintenance
Task #3:
Check basement pipe
and duct insulation |
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How do you check your basement
pipe and duct insulation? |
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Check the insulation of all basement
pipes and ducts. Check air ducts for any air leaks.
Look for sections that should be joined, but have separated.
Inspect for any holes. If you use duct tape to repair and
seal your ducts, look for tape with the "UL" logo on
it, which is less likely to degrade, crack, or lose its bond with
age. If any insulation has come loose, it should be repaired
or replaced. |
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Why is it important to check your
basement pipe and duct insulation? |
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Proper insulation
of cold-water pipes helps prevent those pipes from "sweating"
and dripping during the hot summer months, and possible freezing
during the winter. Proper insulation of hot-water pipes
and air ducts prevents energy loss. |
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How
often should you your basement pipe and duct insulation? |
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Basement
pipe and duct insulation should be inspected every 3 years in
May, when other basement inspections are being conducted. |
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How
does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task? |
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The
cost of this task is moderately low. Depending on
your particular basement, it is estimated that this task should
only take about 45 minutes to complete, and the task is relatively
easy to do. Depending on how your basement is finished,
you may need a flashlight to do parts of your inspection. |
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The
benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing
this task can help prevent pipe damage and energy losses. |
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Overall
Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and
four 'hats' = high): |
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Maintenance
Task #4:
Check basement support
beams |
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How do you check basement support
beams? |
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Inspect each support
beam to ensure that there are no gaps between beams and the
main house girders. Gaps should be filled by driving in
shims (thin pieces of metal or hard wood) as necessary. |
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Why is it important to check basement
support beams? |
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If there are gaps
between the beams and house girders, then the beam is not carrying
the proper load of the house, which can lead to shifting and
settling of floors and walls. |
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How
often should you check basement support beams? |
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Beams
should be checked every 3 years, during May, when other
basement inspections are being conducted. |
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How
does Home-Wizard rate the costs and benefits for this task? |
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The
cost of this task is very low. It is estimated that
this task should only take about 30 minutes to complete, and the
task is relatively easy to do. Depending on how your basement
is finished, you may need a flashlight to do parts of your inspection. |
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The
benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing
this task can help prevent uneven settling of your home, which
can cause cracking in your walls and floors. |
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Overall
Home-Wizard benefit-versus-cost rating (one 'hat' = low and
four 'hats' = high): |
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