French Drains – Repair and Maintenance

By David Linn Cook and Joe Soster, Waterproofing One

When basement waterproofing installation jumpstarts a new utility storage room and/or a basement den/office, humidity control and air quality ventilation are key factors. This must be maintained to assure continued full utilization of the new “third floor.”

A senior couple’s home had recently flooded due to a lack of ongoing maintenance and

job detailing. This became an even bigger issue since they started babysitting their very first grandchild five days a week! 

Their lawn, leaf raking, mulching and snow removal was done by local individuals, so it wasn’t always adequately maintained. Walking around the home’s exterior was not easy and in places was even impossible, especially with baby pick-ups and drop-offs, two senior dogs needing to be walked, and an active home with family and neighbors visiting and checking in on the couple.

The water and mold prevention crew removed wet carpets and the lower sheetrock walls, but the main source of where the water emanated from was still a mystery. Quickly replacing a mud filled section of a 20 year old French drain system helped, but the partial replacement and sump pump/well upgrade was still insufficient to prevent another flash flood disaster.

This simple question remained – how do we eliminate water entering the basement? Another question being why, after two decades plus, did everything fail? A thorough exterior inspection quickly revealed the reasons why. The downspouts were all backed up so the window wells were completely filled with mud, leaves and debris. On top of that, most if not all of the sump pump discharge was circling back into the basement, with lots of silt clogging mud.

The solution – proper basement window well vents were opened up for the first time in many years, the sump discharge was changed and the gutter spouts were extended away from the exterior perimeter. After cleaning out the sump pump closet and coating the mold free walls, the basement could then be restored with new flooring and paint.

You can’t do “clean laundry” in the dirtiest room in the home. With the dry storage area compromised and leaky HVAC ducts spreading moldy/moist air to the floors above, the answer is yes, it matters that seasonal maintenance is done correctly to maintain a truly waterproofed basement year-round. Composting mulch with closed window vents, prevents water run-off and provides sweet smelling, fresh air intake. Problem solved with accurate diagnosis and detailing by a local Waterproofing expert at Weatherproofing Plus, Inc. Phone: 610-325-0596. Email: [email protected].
weatherproofing-plus.com

Community Events – October 2023

Saturday, October 7

Climb Out of the Darkness @Sleighton Park (277-299 Forge Road, Media)

This free, family-friendly walk raises awareness of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and other perinatal mental health conditions. The event, which is program of Postpartum Support International (PSI), will have a resource fair, and there is a playground for the kids. Registration is required for ages 16 and up, and the event will take place rain or shine. Time: 9:30am-12:30pm. classy.org/team/488670

Sunday, October 8

22nd Annual Run for Heroes @Springfield Township Municipal Complex

The Run for Heroes benefits the Delaware County Hero Scholarship Fund, providing for children of first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty, and has raised over $680,000. Run for a good cause with a chance to win prizes. The race will take place rain or shine. Time: 7:30am registration, 9am run, 11am event ends. Cost: $30 early registration (individual), $125 early registration (family/team of 4 or 5): delcorunforheroes.com

Sunday, October 8
Rockdale Arts District Open House @Various locations, Aston, PA, 11am – 3pm

Visit multiple arts and music locations in Aston, PA. Enjoy free activities for families at Rockdale Music (3100 Mount Road, back of building) and Rockdale Art Center (2551 Mount Road). View and purchase original fine art and fine craft at 2 New Road Studios (Enter through Convent and Lundgren) and Aston Mills Arts (3100 Mount Road, front of building) from local fine artists. rockdaleartsdistrict.com

Monday-Wednesday, October 9-11
Mo Willems’ Piggie & Elephant Night @Springfield Library – Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Stories, crafts and Piggie and Gerald games await at this special Piggie & Elephant event. Registration is required. springfieldtwplib.com/events


Sunday, October 15
Springfield Parks Clean-Up @Springfield Township Building, 8:30-11am
Meet at the sledding hill at 8:30am for your park assignment. The clean-up will take place from 9-11am.


Thursday-Saturday, October 19-21
The Great Pumpkin Carve 2023 @Chadds Ford Historical Society (1736 Creek Road, Chadds Ford)
Over 70 giant pumpkins will be carved and lit by local artists. Enjoy a kid-friendly haunted train, raffle prizes and live music from Kenny & Friends.  Food, local craft been and wine are available for purchase.

Time: 4-9pm (Thursday and Friday), 3-9pm (Saturday)

Cost: $15 (adults), $5 (ages 7-17), Free (ages 6 and under & CFHS Members) greatpumpkincarve.com

Friday, October 20
Homecoming Game @Springfield High School, 7pm
Springfield takes on the Upper Darby football team.

Saturday-Monday, October 21-23
Library Book Sale @Springfield Township Library
Head to the library’s lower-level program room for the fall book sale!
Time: 10am-4pm (Saturday), 12-3pm (Sunday), 9am-12pm (Monday)
Cost: Varies

COMMUNITY YMCA EVENTS

Friday, October 27
Halloween Family Dance Party
Come dressed and ready to dance to all your happy, haunting favorites. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2p8jxwfh. Time: 6-7:30pm; Cost: Free (members), $10 per family (non-members)

Saturday, October 28 Time: 2-4pm
Halloween Spooktacular 

Bring the family for this fun-filled (not-so-scary) event. Cost: $15 (member), $30 (non-member) Register at https://tinyurl.com/4mxy27jy.


Understanding Pet Ownership Responsibilities

By Matt Morello, Pet Supplies Plus

Each year around the holiday season, we see an influx of new pet parents. Everyone in the pet community loves seeing dogs and cats get adopted out of rescues and fosters into happy and loving homes. The holidays are often followed by a period of dogs and cats reentering shelters and rescues, as people realize they cannot take care of their new addition for various reasons.  We always look to educate prospective pet parents on the responsibilities of their ownership when they are in my Pet Supplies Plus stores asking questions.  

First and foremost, animals need attention. They need to feel companionship with their owner. If you travel a lot for work or leave early in the morning and don’t return until late at night, please be aware that dogs need to be walked several times a day. These animals need to feel companionship with their owners. Thoughtfully considering your lifestyle and understanding the level of commitment a pet requires is very important.  

Cats are a bit different than dogs in terms of the need for constant attention. They allow for much more flexibility with their use of litter boxes and the ability to put out food for more extended periods. Even though cats are more independent than dogs, they still require physical and mental stimulation to keep them sharp. Similar to people, physical exercise will keep their weight in check.  

Consider adopting an older dog, as older dogs tend to be left in shelters as most families go for younger and more active dogs or cats. Instead of going through a breeder, please consider visiting a local shelter for your new addition to the family. Most rescue dogs have been spayed/neutered and screened for temperament or any health issues. 

Animals need play toys to occupy their time. For dogs, like cats, mental stimulation is key to keeping their natural instincts. Depending on their level of chew aggression, there are endless options. For those that chew through plush toys in seconds, I always suggest antlers. Antlers are great for aggressive chewers, as they are very durable. A pro hack is to boil antlers in chicken or bone broth to provide an additional incentive for the pet. Kong toys are a great option, as you can reuse them over a period of time.  

Once you’ve assessed your lifestyle and realized the commitment, you can make an educated decision on adding a pet to your home. The team at Pet Supplies Plus in Woodlyn is ready to help guide you through food selection and answer any questions you may have about your new addition.