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How to Fix the Moisture Problem in Your Basement

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How to Fix the Moisture Problem in Your Basement

For many people - especially those with certain allergies - the basement is the least appealing place in the house. Even if you've got carpeting and have remodeled your basement to look like another great room, it won't necessarily be pleasant if you've got too much moisture built up. Moisture build-up in basements is a common problem, and with some common sense tips, you'll be able to make a lot of progress against moisture in your basement.

A dehumidifier is one of the most popular ways to reduce moisture. Even by its own name, the role of a dehumidifier is simply to take water out of the air and concentrate it back into liquid form: many people are surprised when they see just how much moisture was in their air. It's not uncommon for people to see gallons of water gathered in their dehumidifier after just a short time of running it. If you aren't running a dehumidifier - especially in the summer - it is a great addition to your basement. But remember that even though a dehumidifier removes moisture, it doesn't necessarily take the dampness out of your entire basement.

You can take a very natural approach to reducing basement moisture by employing a rain barrel to collect the rain that hits your roof and comes down through your gutter system. If you don't have a need to let all of that rain collect on your lawn or other places around the house, you can simply collect that water. This will avoid letting the water seep into the ground, where it can then find its way via moisture into your basement. Instead, you can use the rain barrel for practical applications such as watering plants on dryer days. You'd be surprised at how much rain you can collect if you really can find a way to put all of the rain from your roof into one source.

You can also look into waterproofing your walls - either by a waterproofing material installed along your walls or by choosing waterproofing paint when you paint your basement. Waterproofing your walls might seem like it traps moisture in your basement, but it's also keeping moisture out of the basement. When you have a dehumidifier running in your basement, it will then be simple to remove the rest of the moisture that's been trapped in your basement, keeping moisture levels stable and dry.

Knowing how to keep your basement dry means you also know how to keep it comfortable. If you plan on getting a lot of use out of your basement, make sure that you understand how to maintain clean, dry air.

Photo Credits: Photos by Mavis

Originally posted 2009-07-23 03:30:59.

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