Your basement is not just an extra storage area but is instead an important part of the very foundation of your home. Therefore, waterproofing your basement can help you avoid having expensive structural problems that have to be repaired in the future. The following are some of the most important reasons why you should seriously consider waterproofing your basement.

1. Structural Problems

If there are any signs of acid damage, spalling or cracks then you may have a problem with your foundation. Spalling refers to the process when concrete begins to chip. It can be caused by water damage and may also be a sign that you have a severe waterproofing issue that may lead to problems with your foundation. There are professional companies such as A-Proseal.com that provide advice and basement waterproofing services that you can contact if you see any of these signs.

2. Acid Damage

Typically acid damage will appear as rust or brown color stains on your basement floors or wall. These stains are caused by water pushing through your concrete foundation. Acid damage make weaken a basement foundation over time. Foundation and basement waterproofing problems may decrease the value of your property by as much as 20%.

3. Increased Energy Costs

With waterproofing problems comes high humidity, and this can will cause your electricity bills to go up. To cool humid air takes more energy and therefore costs more.

4. Asthma and Allergy Issues

When there is a water problem in a basement, the water can end up evaporating and rising through the other parts of your house. This results in increased humidity inside your home, in addition to your basement. Dust mites thrive in environments with high humidity, and these pests are one of the main causes of asthma and allergy problems.

Increased moisture in the basement creases a perfect environment for mold to thrive as well. Mold is another major cause of many health issues, including skin irritation, eye irritation, wheezing, coughing and throat irritation. Therefore, protecting your family’s health is another major reason why you should seriously consider waterproofing your basement.

Having a damp or wet basement can lead to serious issues for your home and family. On the other hand, a properly waterproofed basement will help to protect your foundation, maintain or increase the value of your home, safeguard the health of your family and help to maintain a cost-effective and comfortable living environment.

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Next to the house payment or rent check, nothing sucks money out of your bank account quite like home energy use. Even your most modest of energy usage in the most ideal of climates and living conditions is still certain to strain your budget when cost-of-living and other variables are plugged into the equation. It’s close to impossible to reduce home energy costs without reducing home energy use, but by committing to following you can eliminate one of the biggest causes of spending too much on energy: wasting it. These steps have resulted in a measurable difference in my monthly bill, and they’re certain to make an impact on yours as well.

Unplug cell phone chargers after use

No matter if you have a pricy contract or favor prepaid phone plans, you’re going to spend roughly the same every time you use electricity to charge your device. But few realize that these chargers continue to draw electricity from the wall after the phone has been unhooked. Unlike other electronics that have an internal component that plugs such power and prevents it from getting through, chargers simply let it dissipate into the air. Practice smart energy conservation by always unplugging chargers after you’ve finished using them.

Keep your refrigerator full

In homes with no central A/C, and especially those in humid climates, the refrigerator can consume as much as one-sixth of all the energy you’re going to get billed for. That’s on account of the fact that the unit has to re-cool itself every time the door is opened. To combat this, you can keep your fridge continually stocked; the items contain cold and when the door is closed release it back into the air, saving your unit the work involved in bring it back down to the right temperature. If you hardly buy enough refrigerated food items to do this, you can also use jugs of water for the same result.

Invest in Compact Florescent Lamps

CFL bulbs are definitely more expensive than traditional incandescent lamps at the outset. But by forgoing the new design in favor of the seemingly cheaper alternative, you’re actually going to be losing money – about 40 American dollars per-bulb. CFLs will over time out-shine and outlast any traditional bulb, and with less energy in the process. You can’t beat that. If you can handle the costlier investment, you’re most certainly thank yourself later when you notice you’re taking your light bulbs with you when you move into your brand new home.

Saving on energy costs without reducing energy use or investing in an expensive eco-friendly overhaul of the home sounds impossible. But it’s quite the opposite: the path to cutting down on home energy use couldn’t be simpler. By committing to the aforementioned you’re certain to find an extra few dollars and cents left at the end of every month. If that’s not savings, I don’t know what is.

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I don’t call myself as an avid advocate of green living but I should say, I am trying my best to change my lifestyle in a way where in I could save Mother Earth along the way. I want my children to learn to love and take care of the environment.

Now, my next green living plans is to have composters at our compound, one for my family and one for my parents. Then after I get all these materials processed, I am going to use them as fertilizers to my future garden that I am building at the back of our home.

Anyway, as of now, I need to find very reliable composters for us to use. We don’t want our garbage accumulate without cause.

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