How to Control Moisture in Your Basement

Whether you are trying to convert your basement into extra living space, or just want a dry place to store some extra stuff, reducing the moisture level of your basement is an important first step. Even if you only go into your basement to change the furnace filter, a drier basement will discourage mold and mildew, create a healthier environment throughout your home, and help keep your house itself in good condition.

The following tips will help you in your quest for a drier basement.

EVALUATE THE SOURCE OF THE MOISTURE:
In order to get rid of basement moisture, you need to first identify where it comes from. The following are common sources of basement moisture.

Inadequate drainage: If you get puddles on the floor during heavy rainstorms, your moisture at least partially comes from inadequate drainage around your house.

Moisture released through the foundation: Many new foundations are sealed with a moisture on the outside of the foundation wall, but older brick and cinder-block foundations can absorb moisture from the ground and release it into your basement.

High water table: Areas prone to flooding, like those near rivers, often have higher water tables that can rise after heavy rains, causing your basement to fill with water.

Human-generated sources: Venting a dryer indoors, basement showers, or windows that let in humid air are all easy-to-remedy sources of excess moisture in basements.

TACKLE POTENTIAL SOURCES FROM BIGGEST TO SMALLEST:
The biggest source of basement moisture is often inadequate drainage. First, check your gutter system: are the downspouts emptying at the base of the foundation? A significant amount of water is collected off the roof of a home during a rainstorm, and you don’t want to dump all this water right where it can leach into your basement. Even if the ground slopes away from the house, you want to extend the downspout at least three to four feet away from the foundation wall.

Ideally, your property should slope away from your foundation walls on all sides. If your house is built into the side of a hill, however, this may not be an option. The trick is to collect any surface water before it actually reaches your house. Drainage ditches will often do the trick; just make sure they have enough slope to actually carry the water around the house and away. If the water is already being channeled to a particular spot (like down a path,) consider installing a drain and pvc pipe to carry the water safely away from the house.

Now that you have gotten rid of a major source of moisture, it is time to tackle the basement walls. Moisture that comes through old brick or cinder-block walls is not always obvious. (In fact, obvious moisture may actually be condensation from dryer vents or humid outside air.) Your walls may feel a bit damp, or there may be slightly darker spots in certain areas.

If you suspect moisture is coming through your walls (and ESPECIALLY if you plan on sheetrocking,) buy a good waterproofing masonry paint like DryLoc. These paints are designed to seal up the pores of masonry surfaces and block water from getting through.

High water tables can prove one of the more difficult challenges when it comes to keeping your basement dry. Sump pumps and french drains (perforated pipes in a bed of gravel) installed under the floor may be needed, depending on the severity of the water problem. Depending on the particular situation, this can be an involved and expensive process. Fortunately, high water tables only pose an occasion issue for most home owners. If you have no intention of finishing your basement, sump pumps will often be adequate to deal with occasional flooding due to high water tables.

Eliminate easily-controlled moisture problems by venting dryers and bathrooms to the outside. During hot, humid days, keep basement windows closed. Don’t hang clothes to dry in your basement, and make sure any leaky plumbing is repaired. Automatic dehumidifiers can remove remaining moisture, but the tank will have to be emptied every few days. If you can somehow route a garden hose outside your basement, perhaps by drilling a hole through a window molding, there are dehumidifiers that can drain through a hose, eliminating the need to empty the tank. (Just remember, the hose will need to slope downhill for this to work. You may need to place your dehumidifier on a high shelf to accomplish this.)

Even if you have no plans for finishing your basement, using these tips to create a drier basement will be good for your health, the longevity of your home itself, and will make the basement a safer place to store things or set up a small work area.

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