L OCAL LIVING
11 DC
HOW TO
County gets to the bottom of moist basement issues
by Jeanne Huber Q
During the past few heavy rainstorms, the water flow into my basement sump pump
was as if a garden hose at full force were shooting water into it. Fortunately, I did not have a flood because the power was on. The house is 50 years old and has a cinder-block basement. The cracks between the blocks seem to be getting wider over time. I feel the house is shifting. I would like a third-party consultation to assess whether there is an underground stream and, if so, what I can do to avert damage to my house.
Adelphi As a resident of Prince
George’s County, you’re in luck. You can get a free assessment through the Environmental Services Group of the county’s Department of Environmental Resources (301-883-5834). County property owners pay for this service through the storm-water fee collected with property taxes. The inspector will see whether your moisture problems are caused by underground water, surface water flow, a broken pipe or another issue. The inspector will also answer your questions and advise you on the best way to proceed, said Beverly Warfield, who is in charge of the program. Before the visit, get an
overview of potential causes and solutions, so that you’re better equipped to ask questions and
BIGSTOCK
Could cracks in a cinder-block basement signal a shifting house?
understand the advice. One great resource is “Residential Drainage: A Homeowner’s Guide to Drainage Problems and Solutions,” published by the same county agency. You can download the pamphlet from
www.princegeorgescountymd. gov.
Once you settle on a solution to your problem, Warfield recommends that you get at least three bids. Costs vary widely even for the same sorts of projects, she said. But it sounds as though you already know to be wary. People who live elsewhere might want to check with their local government about whether a similar service exists. If it doesn’t, call a geotechnical engineering company. If the business that you call handles only large projects, ask for a recommendation of a company that does small-scale residential work.
Have a problem in your home? Send home improvement questions to
localliving@washpost.com. Please put “How To” in the subject line and tell us where you live.
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