3 Causes for Basement Moisture & What You Can Do About It
If your basement has turned into a dank, moldy, unpleasant place to be, an undiagnosed moisture problem may be at work. Here are some possible causes of your basement moisture, along with steps for resolving them.
Foundation Cracks and Seepage
A noticeably wet basement floor following a rainstorm should be your cue to check for cracks in your concrete foundation. These cracks may take the form of a "stair-step" pattern if your walls are made of concrete bricks, or straight vertical lines if your walls are made of poured concrete. As you inspect the concrete, pay special attention to the depth and width of the cracks. Hairline cracks cracks often pose no imminent structural dangers; larger cracks, however, should not only alert you to potential weakness, but they may also allow water from groundwater seepage to enter the basement. Cracks in the floor can allow allow water to seep up into the basement.
A foundation repair service contractor can inspect these cracks to determine the best way to fix them. Foundation crack repair services can patch smaller, primarily cosmetic cracks with epoxy, but large cracks may call for significant stabilization work to keep things from getting worse. As for the seepage, consider either installing a foundation sump pump or have your existing sump pump inspected to make sure it's still working correctly. Don't forget to check the angle of your gutter's downspout; you may need to angle it further away from your foundation to avoid future basement moisture issues.
Water Through the Windows
Basement windows can add cheerful sunlight to an otherwise gloomy part of the home and can contribute some welcome air circulation if opened. Unfortunately, these windows are also vulnerable to groundwater infiltration. That's why a typical basement window will have an attachment called a window well encircling it. This device is meant to act as a protective dam to keep groundwater from seeping into the window frame, but if the window well lacks proper drainage underneath it, it will simply fill up with water like a bucket. The solution to this problem is to create a gravel-filled trench at least 12 inches deep underneath the window that will carry water away from the house.
Sometimes the window itself is the weak point. Window frames made of wood can deteriorate after extended exposure to moisture, causing water to enter and mold to proliferate. Check your basement window's seals and frame periodically; if the window appears to be deteriorating, replace the seals or install a new frame made of vinyl or other water-resistant material.
Humidity from Appliances
Basements are popular places to keep clothes washers, dryers, irons and ironing boards, but this practical idea can also raise the humidity in such an enclosed space. This is especially true if your dryer isn't venting warm, moist air out of the basement efficiently. Have the clothes dryer vent pipe's connection and functionality checked by a service technician. Even if you run a dryer in the basement, simply hanging wet clothes to dry in this space can make the air more humid. Be aware that laundry machines and other appliances installed in other parts of the house could be directing moist air to the basement instead of expelling that air outdoors. Check these appliances' vents as well.
If you can't completely solve the humidity problem by improving your appliances' venting efficiency, you'll need to use additional measures to dry the air. Installing a dehumidifier in the basement can certainly help, but even the low-tech option of opening the door to the basement and circulating the air with a fan is better than nothing.
Your basement doesn't have to resemble something out of a haunted-house movie. Check these possible sources of moisture infiltration and contact services like Safe-Guard Waterproofing for more information or assistance.