Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in IA

The Basics of Dehumidification Systems

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 03:29:30 -0400

If you’re wondering why your kids always sick or your home has a bit of a musty smell then you may have an indoor air quality issue. Mold and dust mites are huge problems for homeowners, sometimes, the homeowner doesn’t even know! Regardless, the quality of our home’s indoor air is very important, in fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has said that indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air! So, what’s in your home and what can you do to make it cleaner?

Are you constantly questioning the quality of air that’s in your home?

Is the air circulating in my home fresh? Do dehumidification systems really work? How can I remove odors and allergens? Can I buy a dehumidification system that’s energy efficient? Where can I purchase a good dehumidification system?

As you can see, many people ask themselves questions like this. It’s quite normal because everyone wants to live in a healthy environment. What isn’t so normal is actually living in and maintaining an unhealthy home.

Your home can be overrun by musty smells and odors when mold and mildew enter your home—they easily deny you and your home of clean, fresh air. When you eliminate mold and mildew, you eliminate the musty smells and odors.

Mold and mildew are fungi that tend to thrive under wet, damp and moist conditions.

Do all Dehumidification Systems Really Work?

When it comes to dehumidification systems, size matters. Of course a small system might just be made of the most expensive materials, but in most cases, small can sometimes mean it won’t meet the standard.

Most dehumidification systems on the market are too small to actually fulfill the work that is necessary. Their cold coil isn’t large enough to actually remove all the water out of the air. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t remove any moisture, but that it doesn’t remove enough. In addition, many dehumidification systems are not the appropriate size to actually help restore healthy conditions in a basement. Last but in some cases not least, a great feature of a top notch system is its draining ability. Some systems actually fill a bucket with water from the air and then shut down.

What are your standards and expectations? Make a list and go shopping for the dehumidifier that will actually meet your needs.

Odors and Allergens

Do you have questions or concerns about air in your home? As mold and mildew enters your home, musty smells and odors occur, robbing your home of its fresh air.

Because your home is clean doesn’t mean the air in your home is pure. Many allergens attack the safety levels in homes, from dust mites to molds—it’s a battle! So you ask yourself: is it possible to get rid of dust mites? Yes!

A key factor to ridding your home of the pesky little critters is to lower the relative humidity near or below 50%. By simply reducing the humidity, you are claiming the water supply that molds and dust mites absorb. Remove the water supply and watch the mold and dust mites disappear.

Are Dehumidification Systems Energy Efficient?

Some dehumidification systems such as the patented SaniDry™; is a high-capacity, single unit, high-efficiency dehumidification system and air filtration that is also ENERGY STAR rated.
As you may know, the ENERGY STAR label is not given to just any product. But, ENERGY STAR sifts through standards and tests to declare what products actually meet and sometimes exceed the expectations.

The SaniDry is amongst the group of dehumidifiers that conserves energy and cuts its energy usage in half. So, this system can remove 100 pints of water in a day, and only uses the energy equivalent to a system removing 40 pints of water a day.

If you’re looking for more information about dehumidification systems for your basement, or if you want to speak with an expert about your home, contact Bix Service today. They’re your basement contractor in Quincy, IL and service all local areas.

Dehumidification Systems for Your Basement

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:53:01 -0400

Are you tired of damp, musty smells and odors in your basement? Did you know that the air in your basement can contaminate the air throughout your home? So, if the basement air is musty and full of allergens, you better believe the rest of your home’s air has traces of those same issues.

Then it is time to say hello to the benefits of an allergen-free home, less humid space, and pure air. This may seem like an impossible task to achieve, but it can be achieved with the carefully chosen basement and crawlspace air filtration and dehumidifier system.

Such a product will reduce homeowners’ concerns about crawlspace air exchange or basement ventilation.

Basement and Crawl Space Odors

Indoor air quality is important to most anyone, and when you constantly smell strange and unidentifiable things, you might begin to get a bit concerned and even frustrated.
If your basement or crawl space has some musty and just downright grimy smells, you may have yourself a mold problem.

When mold and mildew enter your home it is highly likely you will be burdened by nasty, musty smells and odors.

By simply eliminating the mildew and mold, you will eliminate much of the musty smells and odors. Mildew and molds are fungi that thrive in damp, wet or moist conditions, so experts highly recommended keeping your home's relative humidity near or below 50%.

Dehumidification is the key factor in eliminating musty smells and odors caused by mildew and mold. However, never ignore or overlook outside spigots, gutters and plumbing problems such as drips or leaks. In doing so, you’re preventing some typical causes of mold issues.

Dehumidification Used to Fight Home Allergens

A dehumidification system is a great option for any homeowner who wants to enjoy an allergen-free living space, pure air and less humidity.

Because your home is clean doesn’t mean the air in your home is pure. Many times homeowners are exhausting themselves re-cleaning and not eliminating the source. In doing so, you’re actually wasting your time and energy and creating more work for yourself. If you or someone in your home is still experiencing allergy issues, even after you’ve cleaned—this might indicate a need for a dehumidifier.

Dust mites are the number one cause of indoor allergic reactions. With that being said, everyone wants to get rid of dust mites, but is it even possible to do that? Yes!

The key factor to ridding your home of the pesky little critters is to lower the relative humidity near or below 50%. By simply reducing the humidity, you are claiming the dust mites’ water supply that they absorb from the moist air. If there isn’t any moisture in the air, the dust mites are no more. In the same way, you can also reduce or in some cases even eliminate mold growth.

Energy Efficient Dehumidifier

The SaniDry™ is an example of an ENERGY STAR rated high-capacity, high-efficiency dehumidification system and air filtration in one single unit. Each day, such a product removes approximately 100 pints of water out of the air in your basement, using the same amount of energy as a 40-pint dehumidifier.

The SaniDry system in particular, is designed to filter particles out of the air supply as small as less than two microns in size, which is smaller than mold spores or dust mite droppings.
Here’s the key to any good dehumidification system: a powerful blower to circulate dry air throughout your entire basement.

This allows new dry air to dry the contents and building materials, which forces the dampness out of your basement. This sort of system makes a huge difference in a short amount of time. Homeowners love their dry, odor free basements—it’s a unanimous response.

Conclusion

If you have any questions or concerns about crawl space or basement ventilation air exchange, contact Bix Service today. As a member of Basement Systems, Inc. they provide the SaniDry Dehumidification system. They offer a free estimate for Quincy, IL wet basement repair, and in all surrounding areas.

Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week Is Scheduled for March 7-11

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:42:00 -0500

Clark, MO – During Severe Weather Awareness Week, all Missourians will be focusing on ways to prepare for various emergency conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have scheduled the week from March 7-11, 2011.

Each day will serve to bring awareness to its own theme.

Monday: Preparedness Day—everyone should consider the emergencies they could encounter, put together an escape plan and practice the plan.
Tuesday: Tornado Safety Day—understand the difference between a tornado watch and warning. Learn ways to protect yourself regardless of where you might be and distinguish between tornado myths and facts.
Wednesday: Flash Flood Safety Day—everyone is reminded of TADD, which stands for Turn Around Don’t Drown. Many flood-related deaths can be prevented if drivers avoided any water buildup when driving.
Thursday: Severe Thunderstorm Safety—there are plenty of safety precautions to follow when inside or outside during a thunderstorm.
Friday: NOAA Weather Radio—this is the only device that can send alerts about dangerous weather all day long.

While each day is important to saving lives, much attention is being drawn to Tuesday’s tornado safety day, which marks the state’s 37th annual tornado drill. It will be held this year at 1:30 p.m. Locals have seen as many as 102 tornados in a single year and as many as 19 reported deaths in one year.

Contact Bix Service today if looking for ways to maintain a home or building’s condition. Bix offers basement waterproofing to prevent water damage during heavy rains, crawl space repair and foundation repair to help sturdy a foundation and to restore it after enduring a hefty storm. Call Bix today for a free estimate for fixing bowing walls in Quincy, MO and all surrounding areas including Iowa and Illinois.

For more information, visit the official Severe Weather Awareness Week site.

Two More Bix Employees are Waterproofing and Crawlspace Design Certified

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:04:36 -0500

Bix Service is proud of the many employees that are eagerly seeking opportunities to grow and become an ever greater asset to the team and community. In fact, just recently Mack McCartney and Pat Ensminger completed their training for Advanced Training Certificates for Basement Waterproofing and Crawlspace Design!

They received their training at a sales camp and are very excited to bring their training to the field and make homeowner's basements and crawlspaces beautiful, efficient and dry!

Congratulations Mack and Pat!

Contact Bix today and we'll gladly assist with any needs you may have for foundation repair in Missouri, Illinois or Iowa.

Iowa Foundation Repair Company Recycles Cans and Bottles for No Kill Pet Adoption Center

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:09:23 -0500

Fort Madison, IA - Each year Bix Service donates a monetary contribution to the Protectors of Animal Welfare, better known as P.A.W., in addition to recycled cans and bottles, which this year is being put toward office décor and paint.

The recycling and donation initiatives were organized five years ago by Scott Huffman, an employee at Bix Service who volunteers at P.A.W and has served as a foreman over the past three years.

This all started when Huffman noticed that many production teams threw out cans and bottles after being on a job. Huffman, being a volunteer at the center, knew of the year-round can and bottle fundraiser, so he provided a P.A.W. bin and from then on the teams recycle all their cans and bottles.

Last year the contributions were enough to build a roof above the animals' outdoor cages.

Bix Service donates to P.A.W. and the Humane Society each year in addition to a list of causes that change each year. This year they contributed to the Kiwanis Club, the Lions, Pheasants Forever, Relay for Life and many community events such as Balloons over the Mississippi and The Oaks.

Contact Bix Service today with any questions or to schedule your free estimate for basement waterproofing or crawl space and foundation repair in Illinois, Iowa or Missouri. They're an active member of the internationally renowned Basement Systems, Inc. network of the world's highly trained and qualified basement repair experts. There are over 300 dealers in six countries around the world.

P.A.W. is a registered no-kill animal adoption center that has been in service for 14 years and adopts 250-300 pets each year. This center does not receive any funding from the state or government and runs solely off of the donations, fundraisers, grants, and other forms of monetary gain. The center is also fully tax-deductible.

Repairing Rubble Wall Foundations Using New Technology to Upgrade Old Walls

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:58:54 -0500

There are many elements to admire in historic houses, including original foundations made from native stone. When you consider that many of these old foundations were built without the benefits of footings, steel reinforcement and modern mortar, it’s remarkable they can last so long. Eventually, however, so-called rubble wall foundations are likely to sustain damage because of excess water in the soil, or soil that settles, erodes or shifts for some reason. When this happens, a skilled foundation repair specialist can utilize modern techniques to repair and preserve an historic foundation.

Repairing an old rubble wall foundation almost always involves some associated repairs, like making drainage and waterproofing improvements. It’s also common to replace rotten framing and either repair or replace the post-and-beam framework that provides mid-span support for the first floor. The foundation repair crew often has to erect temporary supports for the first floor framing while foundation repairs are made.

One way to save old walls using new technology is to install push or helical piers that extend to proper load-bearing soil, and utilize these piers to support new beams made from steel or reinforced concrete. Steel brackets and/or uprights can extend from the beams to support the house framing. This strategy allows a new structural system to do much of the old wall’s load-bearing work. Instead of being dismantled and replaced, the original rubble wall can remain in place, preserved with basic repairs like repointing.

Repairing historical houses is always challenging when historical details must be preserved. Many contractors are more accustomed to removing old materials entirely and replacing them with more modern equivalents. But a skilled foundation repair specialist should be able to preserve an original rubble stone foundation by using new structural materials like piers, beams and brackets.

Contact Bix Service today for foundation repair in Missouri.

Repairing a Masonry Chimney

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:06:29 -0500

There are a number of things that can go wrong with masonry chimneys, but the good news is that all of these problems can be solved if you contact the right professional. Here’s a brief summary of the major issues that come up with masonry chimneys.

•    Cap problems. The top of a masonry chimney typically has a concrete cap that slopes down from one or more ceramic liners that extend up through the center of the chimney. Over time, cracks will form in the concrete, and they are certain to grow larger if water enters them and then freezes. Patching mortar can be used to fill these cracks, but if the concrete starts to crumble or the cracks become too numerous, it’s best to have the loose and deteriorated concrete removed so that a new cap can be installed.

•    Settling and shifting. A masonry chimney requires a foundation, just like a house. But the importance of this small foundation is sometimes overlooked as the construction crew focuses on the larger one. It’s not uncommon for a chimney foundation to be poorly made. If it’s too small to support the chimney or located above the frost line, there’s a good chance that soil movement might cause the chimney to tilt out of plumb. The right person to call for this type of repair is a foundation repair contractor.

•    Deteriorated mortar. Even when correctly mixed and applied, the mortar used to lay up a brick chimney can deteriorate over time. If this problem is caught early enough, a mason can simply repoint the mortar joints to make the chimney look like new again.

•    Masonry cracks. Most cracks in a masonry chimney occur in the mortar joints that separate bricks, blocks or stones. Hairline cracks don’t indicate structural problems and can usually be ignored until the chimney is repointed. But if a crack is wider than 1/8 in. or if it varies in width, this can indicate a structural issue that should be investigated by an experienced mason or foundation repair contractor.

•    Flashing leaks. Flashing is required where a chimney joins the roof of a house. When properly installed, chimney flashing protects the house and the chimney from water damage. Flashing can lose its effectiveness when new roofing is installed, when mortar joints deteriorate, and when a chimney shifts or settles. Because moisture can cause mold as well as structural damage, leaky flashing should be repaired right away.

Contact Bix Service today for help with your masonry chimney or for any other structural or foundation questions and needs. Bix specializes in basement waterproofing, crawl space and foundation repair in Iowa.

Foundation Repair Expert in Iowa is BBB Accredited with A Plus Rating

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:20:30 -0500

Fort Madison, IA - As a foundation and crawl space repair expert that also specializes in basement waterproofing, Bix Service is the local expert with over fifty years experience and maintains an A+ rating as a Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited business.

Bix serves as a reputable and memorable business that offers exemplary customer service with the utmost respect for customers and precise attention to detail. Whilst being in business for over 50 years, Bix has proven to meet the needs of their customers by obtaining and keeping the highest coveted BBB rating: A+.

Bix has committed themselves to the BBB's eight business standards that build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor promises, be responsive, safeguard privacy, and embody integrity.

As a BBB accredited business, they must also commit to promptly resolving any and all complaints, in addition to paying a review/monitoring fee that also supports BBB services to the public.

Contact Bix Service today with any questions or to schedule your free estimate for basement waterproofing or crawl space and foundation repair in Iowa. They're an active member of the internationally renowned Basement Systems, Inc. network of the world's highly trained and qualified basement repair experts. There are over 300 dealers in six countries around the world.

New web site launched

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:04:12 -0400

Bix Service of Fort Madison hired Basement Systems web team to manage out web campaigns. We are proud to announce that our new web site is complete and fully functional. Please surf through our web site and give us some feedback relating to the content and functionality of the site :)

Thank you for visiting Bix Service.