Prevent Humidity in Basement

Humidity can cause damage to your basement if it is not prevented by handling moisture or water leaks immediately. The dampness from humidity may cause the walls and foundation in your basement to rot, causing structural damage and potential health problems as a result from breathing contaminated, humid air. In most cases, humidity in your basement is caused by water leaks from other parts of the house and household activities such as laundry, cooking, and bathing. Continue reading to learn how you can prevent the air in your basement from becoming humid.

Steps

  1. Use a dehumidifier in your basement during humid weather to remove excess moisture from the air and to prevent condensation that may form on concrete walls.
  2. Inspect your clothes dryer vent and ventilation fans located in the kitchen and bathrooms to make sure they lead airflow directly to the outside of your home.
  3. Speak to or consult with your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system contractor to make sure your system is equipped and properly sized to remove humidity from your basement.
    • Look for air leaks in the clothes dryer venting pipe and make sure it is attached properly to the dryer to prevent excess air from escaping into the basement.
  4. Open the door to your basement at least once a month and run an oscillating fan in the basement for between 1 and 2 hours to promote air circulation.
  5. Place materials such as clothing, furniture, books, and paperwork in areas away from the basement walls or remove them from the basement completely to prevent increased humidity levels and mold growth.
  6. Inspect your basement regularly for water leaks.
    • Look for leaks on the walls or ceiling of your basement that may be originating from a bathroom or kitchen.
    • Look for puddles of water, also known as standing water, that may exist on the floor of your basement caused by leaks in the foundation after rainy weather.
    • Examine your walls and floors for beads of condensation, which may result from cold foundations made from concrete in humid weather.
  7. Hire or consult with a building contractor or plumber immediately to repair the foundation in your home or leaks that originate from other rooms of your house, such as the kitchen or bathroom.
  8. Clean your rain gutters and downspout runoffs on a regular basis to prevent flooding and standing water in your basement.
    • Use a ladder or work from your rooftop to safely access your rain gutter during normal weather conditions to avoid slipping or falling.
    • Wear thick work gloves and bring a bucket for leaves and other debris that may reside in your rain gutter.
    • Use a tool such as a garden trowel to scoop up and clean out loose debris from the rain gutter.
    • Use a garden or water hose with a high-pressure nozzle to rinse and blast excess debris out from the rain gutter.
    • Remove any remaining encrusted dirt and grime from the rain gutter using a scrub brush with hard, stiff bristles.
    • If your downspout turnoffs or gutters are clogged, you may need to insert a plumber's auger, also known as a plumber's snake, into the gutter or downspout to remove debris.
    • You may also use a leaf blower to clean debris from rain gutters. If you use this method, wear safety goggles and a dust mask to prevent excess debris from accidentally flying into your face.
  9. Examine the outside perimeter of your house to make sure the ground slopes down and away from your foundation, which will prevent basement leaks and flooding.
    • Within the first 10 feet (3.04 meters) on the ground around your foundation, your ground must slope down and away from your home by at least 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) to prevent leaks and flooding.
    • Contact or consult with a landscaper or building contractor if you are unsure of how to modify the downward slope around the perimeter of your home.
  10. Check your sump pump regularly if you have one to make sure it works properly and is not causing your basement to flood.
    • Look at the outlet pipe of your sump pump to verify it is not clogged or frozen shut. Pour about 5 gallons (18.92 liters) of water directly into the pump and listen to your pump to make sure it drains properly.
  11. Hire a contractor who specializes in mold removal and water damage repairs if leaks have already caused mold growth in certain areas in your basement.

Things You'll Need

  • Dehumidifier
  • Water hose
  • Garden trowel
  • Oscillating fan
  • Bucket
  • Work gloves
  • Ladder
  • Scrub brush

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Sources and Citations

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