How to Fix a Wet Basement

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One of the first things new homeowners realize about their home is that nothing happens automatically. That is to say, nothing will get cleaned unless you clean it up, and nothing will get maintained or repaired unless you take actions toward those ends. One of the frequent problem that pops up? A wet or exceedingly moist basement that smells stuffy. If you want a clean, dry basement that any guest would love to visit, here are a few tips.

First, if you don't have a dehumidifier, you'll need to get one. You'd be amazed at how much water a dehumidifier can remove from the air in your basement - you might find yourself emptying gallons and gallons of water that essentially came from "thin air." When you have a dehumidifier, you realize how things like air quality can really effect the rest of your home, not to mention the general mustiness of a moist basement. Make sure you have a dehumidifer up and running before you try some other solutions for a musty basement.

A dehumidifier can also solve other problems with a wet basement. For example, condensation appearing on your basement walls or on windows can mean that there's a lot of moisture in the air in your basement. A dehumidifier will also work to help solve this problem. If that's not enough, try using a vapor barrier. Remember that temperature differences also can make for humidity and condensation, so make sure that your basement walls are insulated.

For water seepage, there can be more problems with your basement that a simple dehumidifier can't fix. For example, rain water might be able to seap through the ground and enter your basement. If you have water seepage like this, you'll want to identify the source and then do further research to find out how you can remedy this kind of problem. If you're in doubt, try asking a professional for their advice.

Water damage can be among the most serious threats to your property, especially if you've got a basement full of sentimental items and useful trinkets and supplies. Make sure to guard your basement effectively by understanding insulation, air humidity, and how you can seal your basement off from potential water harm. The more you know about a wet basement, the better you'll be able to fix it.

Photo Credits: Loozrboy

This post involves:

air quality, basement walls, condensation, dehumidifier, doubt, dry basement, frequent problem, further research, humidity, musty basement, new homeowners, rain water, temperature differences, thin air, trinkets, vapor barrier, water damage, water seepage, wet basement

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Basement, Handyman, How to Fix

Posted by Fix Handyman on October 16, 2009 in Basement, Handyman, How to Fix