What would you do if you saw water flooding a building that was part of local and national history?
The owners of a home in Chillicothe, OH, noticed water in the basement of the structure. But this wasn’t a normal situation of flooding during periods of heavy rain. The home has two separate basements connected by a tunnel. This property is on the National Register of Historic Places and was part of the Underground Railroad.
Even with two operating sump pumps, the basements still filled with 6 inches of water during periods of rain. Considering its historical significance, it is vital to maintain a safe and dry environment for this home that was built in 1798.
The owners wanted to find the best solution, so they contacted Ohio Basement Authority after seeing one of our TV ads. Inspector John Becker then completed a thorough evaluation at the more than 200-year-old home.
John was honored to visit a home of such historical significance. He knew our company would have our work cut out for us, but confidently presented the homeowners with the perfect repair solutions. We met the challenge of waterproofing this unique home head-on while taking great care to protect it.
Per John’s recommendations, one of our expert crews installed the very best waterproofing solutions to keep the basements dry.
The perimeter was carefully excavated to install the sub-floor BasementGutter interior drainage system. Instead of flooding the basements and overwhelming the sump pumps, any seeping water will be intercepted by the BasementGutter system. This water will then be directed to the two SafeDri Triple sump pumps that replaced the older, failing pumps. Equipped with three pumps and a battery-back-up, the SafeDri Triple systems will always work to pump water out of and away from the home.
Sections of drainage pipe were installed in front of the interior doorways, and were tied into the BasementGutter systems. New downspout conductor lines were also installed on the property, and FreezeGuards were attached to the exterior sump pump discharge lines to prevent flooding from frozen or blocked lines.
The owners were excited these permanent solutions were installed so the home will remain safe and dry, and its historical integrity has been protected.
Installing Contractor: Ohio Basement Authority
Certified Inspector: John Becker
Products Installed: BasementGutter, SafeDri Triple, FreezeGuard, Exterior Drainage