Hydrostatic pressure is caused by underground springs, rivers, and a fluctuating high water table. If water seeps in where the basement wall meets the floor or even up through the floor, the hydrostatic pressure must be relieved and the water diverted to a location where it can be pumped out and away from the basement.
A hydrostatic pressure relief system, one method advocated by the Vulcan Basement Waterproofing people, requires no outside digging or destruction of property. It involves cutting a trench in the floor around the perimeter of the basement, next to the foundation walls. The trench must be excavated down to the footings and in it a system of drain tiles laid. The system must be adequately sized so that it can carry off all the water to a sump pump or drain for removal from the house. After the lines are installed, the trench must be filled with gravel, bleeders installed in the block walls, and the trench re-covered with concrete.
If the hydrostatic pressure relief system is not properly designed, it will clog and backup, or worse yet, undermine the integrity of your foundation. So, even though a handyman or homeowner could conceivably install the pressure relief system himself, he would probably do better to engage an insured professional waterproofing contractor to do the work – and a contractor like Vulcan, who is willing to guarantee it and end your struggles with a leaky, wet basement.
The pressure relief drainage system was designed and invented by Vulcan Basement Waterproofing in the mid 1960’s. Our company made many efforts the late 1940’s thru the early 1960’s trying to discover basement systems, materials and methods that would ultimately best conquer the problem of basement water seepage. During this early period of our company we had the choice of using epoxy like materials, excavating the outside and trying different chemical compounds. Up to this time our philosophy centered around stopping the water before it entered the basement. However, thru trial and error, it became apparent that you just can’t stop water. It was clear to those pioneers that the forces of nature were too strong to hold back. Our forefathers decided by the late 1950’s that the use of drain tile or drain systems would be a great way to combat the water pressure that causes most basement water problems.
In the early 1960’s Vulcan Basement Waterproofing really started to get involved with what we know of today as the Pressure Relief System. Around 1965 the company decided that the best way to handle more serious basement water problems is thru this new pressure relieving philosophy. The idea was groundbreaking and on the cutting edge and really revolutionized the industry. In 1966 Vulcan Basement Waterproofing was given a patent on this cure and we called it the “Vulcan Pressure Relief System”. This approach of using the long term solution of relieving the water “pressure” to control basement water problems by the means of installing the pressure relief system has allowed us to put an end to most basement water problems.
A leaky, wet basement has always been and will continue to be a phenomenon that will afflict the majority of homes with basements throughout the United States. During the last 60 years, many companies have come and gone in the basement waterproofing industry. Most of these entities try to emulate the success of Vulcan Basement Waterproofing. Naturally they have attempted to copy our pressure relief system in their own way. However we are the only company that can truthfully advertise the fact that our method is the original one. In over 60 years of being in business, our patented pressure relief system is one of the many tools Vulcan Basement Waterproofing has discovered to help homeowners control a wet and leaky basement.
Vulcan Basement Waterproofing Company is the world’s oldest and most experienced basement waterproofing specialist, having been established in 1947 and basement waterproofing has been our only business for over 60 years.
