Do you have problems with moisture in your basement?
A house's basement is often a place where moisture accumulates. It's a dark and cool space where warm air quickly cools down. It is this interplay between warm and cold that causes moisture to form in various areas of the house.
Warm air contains more water than cold, and when warm air encounters cool surfaces in the basement, it releases water through condensation.
This means that summer is actually a greater moisture risk for your basement than, for example, winter.
Once moisture spreads in your basement, it can lead to many unwelcome consequences – regardless of the time of year.
The danger of moisture in the basement
The biggest problem with a damp basement is that the house's structure can be negatively affected. Prolonged moisture damage can cause both mold and rot, which poses a risk to the entire house.
In the long run, this can mean you'll need to replace the affected parts. This can be both a costly and time-consuming operation and is something that keeps many worried homeowners awake at night.
Moisture-related problems
Dimensional changes in damp material
Moisture can cause materials to swell or shrink. These deformations can affect both the affected material and everything attached to the moisture-damaged material.
Mold
Mold can cause bad odors, discolored material, and most importantly, make residents sick. Mold releases toxic gases, which cause illnesses such as asthma, allergies, eczema, respiratory infections, and in some extreme cases, cancer.
Rot damage
Rot damage occurs when rot fungi attack the house's wooden structure. The wood becomes more porous and thus attracts even more moisture. If rot damage is allowed to continue untreated, wood and other organic materials will break down. In the worst case, this can mean the house begins to collapse.
Corrosion
Corrosion, or more commonly rust, occurs when metal materials are exposed to moisture for extended periods. Rust breaks down the metal, and over time the metal becomes increasingly porous, eventually breaking apart.
Pests like moisture
Some insects and pests thrive particularly well in humid environments. Silverfish, mites, woodlice, and drain flies are typical signs that you have excessively high moisture levels in your basement. Rats and snakes also like to settle in humid environments.
Bad odor
Mold and other microbial activity often cause bad odors. The musty smell spreads throughout the house and settles in clothes, furniture, and belongings.
The unpleasant smell is insidious because we quickly get used to it. We might think that the bad smell was only temporary, but in reality, we have grown accustomed to it. We no longer notice how it smells. However, visitors will immediately detect the musty odor.
Poor drainage & inadequate moisture protection
Basement walls should have moisture protection to prevent surrounding moisture from soil and ground from penetrating the exterior wall. Poor drainage around the house is another risk factor when rainwater collects in large quantities around the foundation and basement.
The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning highlights inadequate moisture protection on basement walls as a moisture-creating problem that more and more homeowners are experiencing, especially during extreme weather.
Prevent moisture problems
There's a lot you can do yourself to quickly get moisture under control, but also to prevent it from taking hold in the first place.
Good ventilation
Ventilation is the single best measure to prevent moisture. However, good ventilation is not the same as excessive ventilation. It's about finding a good level of ventilation. It should not be inadequate, but also not cause too much draft into the house.
Measure the moisture
A good way to monitor the moisture levels in the house and basement is to measure the humidity and the moisture content in the construction materials. A hygrometer will give you an idea of the relative humidity in a specific space, and a moisture meter will show you exactly how much moisture, for example, a beam or stud contains.
The relative humidity (Rh) in a basement should be between 40-55% Rh when measured with a hygrometer. You get the best measurement if you let the hygrometer measure the basement space for longer periods and in different locations. Record the different values based on their placement in the space. Also, note the outdoor weather conditions to see if they affect the environment in your basement.
The moisture level in load-bearing wood materials in the house's structure should not exceed 16%. However, different materials have different acceptable moisture levels. Check the material with a moisture meter and make several different readings in the tested material.
Dry & clean
Dirty surfaces bind more moisture than clean ones. Keeping things clean and fresh is a good start to moisture-proofing the basement. Dry-wipe walls and floors regularly when you clean. Especially if the basement starts to feel damp and raw.
Also, move furniture and items that are placed against walls. Make sure air can circulate freely over all surfaces. Stacking a pile of cardboard boxes tightly against a wall can lead to moisture problems that you won't even notice in time.
Use a dehumidifier
A good way to prevent moisture problems is, of course, to use a dehumidifier for the basement. If you don't have any clear signs of moisture problems, you can start with various moisture-absorbing agents and products, such as Torrbollen or other types of moisture absorbers.
However, anyone who wants to dehumidify in a more systematic and reliable way should look into an electric dehumidifier right away. For cold basement spaces, a desiccant dehumidifier can be a particularly effective choice. Desiccant dehumidifiers work well even at low temperatures and are specifically designed to handle high humidity levels. Learn more about the benefits of these units on our page for desiccant dehumidifiers.
However, anyone who wants to dehumidify in a more systematic and reliable way should look into an electric dehumidifier right away.
Washing machine, tumble dryer & wet laundry
Some of the basement's biggest moisture culprits are often the machines in the laundry room. It's easy to see that the washing machine can emit moisture, but many don't realize that the main culprit is often the tumble dryer. The tumble dryer emits both moisture and warm air during its drying cycle, thus releasing large amounts of moisture-generating air into the laundry room. A dehumidifier in the laundry room is often a convenient and affordable solution to this problem.
Hanging wet clothes in the basement after washing is not recommended. The wet laundry will add moisture to the air. If you want to dry laundry in the basement, you should instead do so in a confined room, with a dehumidifier that has the capacity to dry laundry. This will give you an effective drying room where the wet laundry will not affect the rest of the house.
Take care of your basement
A basement is just as important to keep dry as your feet. Wet and cold feet will make the rest of your body chilled and can make you sick. A damp and cold basement can cause similar problems for your house.
The basement is part of the house's foundation, and there's every reason to ensure the basement stays dry and healthy. Then both you and the house will feel good!
