Basement tips from intelligent people for home renovation and repair - hiring, working, managing - for women, children and pets

Some people suspect that insects may be coming out of their drain, but can't plug it because someday there may be water problems. A trick is to remove the drain cover, and, if the drainpipe is normal size, drop a tennis ball into the drain. Replace the cover. The ball will prevent unwanted gas from coming in. And because the ball floats, it allows the water to run out. When the flood is over, the tennis ball drops back in place.

To tell if the crack in your basement wall is active, measure widths of the crack and mark the spots, then check again after a few months for changes. Now you know there is movement, but may need an expert to tell if the foundation requires repair.

To test for condensation, tape a piece of aluminum foil against the dry basement wall. When dampness appears, if the foil is wet on the wall side, then moisture is seeping in from outside. Otherwise, the room's interior is causing the dampness.