3 Steps To Keep Your Basement Dry
Posted on: 23 May 2016
Since basements are located below ground, moisture issues can become a real problem. Moisture in your basement can lead to costly foundation damage and mildew, so addressing a wet basement as quickly as possible is important. Here are three steps you can take to help ensure that your basement stays dry in the future.
1. Determine where the moisture is coming from.
When it comes to moisture in your basement, there are two main sources where water could be creeping in. The first source is from indoor humidity. Your basement tends to be cooler than the rest of your home, so moisture in your indoor air will condense on the surfaces in your basement. The second source of moisture in your basement could be water vapor. This is moisture that finds its way into your basement from saturated soil outside your basement walls.
To put a stop to a wet basement, you need to determine where the moisture is coming from. Start diagnosing your problem by taping a piece of tin foil to the inside of your basement wall. When you check the foil a few days later, moisture behind the foil will signal a water vapor problem, while moisture on the outside indicates your issue is indoor humidity.
2. Seal dryer vent to lower indoor humidity levels.
If you determine that your moisture problem is caused by indoor humidity, you can seal off your dryer vent to help lower humidity levels. When your dryer is in use, heated air travels from inside the dryer, through the vent, and into the outdoors.
Any cracks or improperly sealed joints in your dryer vent will allow heated air to escape into your basement, increasing indoor humidity levels. Use foil tape to securely seal your dryer vent, and you should be able to eliminate your basement's moisture problem.
3. Extend your downspouts to eliminate water vapor.
If you notice water pooling near your home's foundation after a rainstorm, then you might need to extend your downspouts to help move this water away from your basement walls.
Downspouts that are too short funnel water collected in rain gutters directly into the soil surrounding your basement. When this soil becomes saturated, moisture will leak into your basement in the form of water vapor. Extending your downspouts horizontally by about 4 to 6 feet, you can help keep moisture away from your basement walls.
Taking the necessary steps to prevent moisture in your basement will help you maintain your home's integrity well into the future. Click here for basement waterproofing or do an online search.
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