Getting Rid of Basement Moisture
Moisture and basements go hand in hand. Any homeowner with a basement will understand that all of them have moisture issues. Sometimes you will get lucky and suffer only a minor moisture problem, but sometimes you are not so lucky and end up with flooding. In order to solve your moisture problems you need to know the type of problem.
There are two main moisture problems in a basement. There is seepage and condensation. Seepage is water or moisture coming through the walls. Condensation is moisture in the air that forms as water droplets on the basements interior. The best way to discover which problem you face is to tack a piece of waterproof material to a wall in your basement. Leave it over night and then check it in the morning. If the side close to the wall is wet then you have seepage. If the outside of the material is wet then you have condensation. You may only have one problem or both.
Now that you have defined your problem you can fix it. For seepage the best thing to do is waterproof the basement. You should patch any cracks or holes in the walls and floors and then apply a waterproofing coating. If the problem has caused damage inside the walls you may need to call a professional basement waterproofing company. Condensation can be fixed by simply adding a dehumidifier to the basement. Be sure to empty its container often as it will quickly fill up with water within the first few days of use.
Getting a basement completely dry is a matter of waterproofing the walls and floors and taking the moisture out the air with a dehumidifier. Once you have tackled the problem you should be able to enjoy a dry basement. However, not every water problem can be avoided. If your basement is prone to flooding then you may need to consult a professional who may be able to stop flooding. Moisture in a basement can be really troublesome, especially if you have a finished basement, so stopping the problem right away is the best thing to do to avoid costly repairs.
There are two main moisture problems in a basement. There is seepage and condensation. Seepage is water or moisture coming through the walls. Condensation is moisture in the air that forms as water droplets on the basements interior. The best way to discover which problem you face is to tack a piece of waterproof material to a wall in your basement. Leave it over night and then check it in the morning. If the side close to the wall is wet then you have seepage. If the outside of the material is wet then you have condensation. You may only have one problem or both.
Now that you have defined your problem you can fix it. For seepage the best thing to do is waterproof the basement. You should patch any cracks or holes in the walls and floors and then apply a waterproofing coating. If the problem has caused damage inside the walls you may need to call a professional basement waterproofing company. Condensation can be fixed by simply adding a dehumidifier to the basement. Be sure to empty its container often as it will quickly fill up with water within the first few days of use.
Getting a basement completely dry is a matter of waterproofing the walls and floors and taking the moisture out the air with a dehumidifier. Once you have tackled the problem you should be able to enjoy a dry basement. However, not every water problem can be avoided. If your basement is prone to flooding then you may need to consult a professional who may be able to stop flooding. Moisture in a basement can be really troublesome, especially if you have a finished basement, so stopping the problem right away is the best thing to do to avoid costly repairs.
