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Solutions for a Damp Basement

Solutions for a Damp Basement

Find Out Where YOUR Home is Losing Energy:

Schedule An Energy Audit

Problem:

Your basement is damp, which can lead to mold and mildew growth, rotting, structural damage, peeling paint, and a number of health problems.

Dampness in your basement comes from either a water leak or high humidity. Each can have a variety of causes. Water can leak in from the outside, through cracks in the foundation or gaps around windows and doors - or it can come from inside the house, from a leaking pipe, toilet, tub or shower. Or the dampness may result from high indoor humidity, which also has a variety of causes. Everyday activities like cooking, showering and drying clothes all increase indoor humidity. Moisture may be migrating through the concrete foundation and evaporating. Or condensation may be forming on the cold concrete walls and floors during the hot months. These are all common problems that could lead to dampness in the basement.

Recommendations:

  • The first step is to find evidence of the problem, which can lead to the cause. Is there standing water on the floor? Is there water damage on the ceiling or the wall, which could point to a water leak? Does the problem occur in a large area, like an entire wall or a whole room? Then it may be caused by excess humidity. See the sections below for help on stopping leaks and reducing humidity.
  • If you think there may be mold growth in your home, read the EPA's Brief Guide to Mold in Your Home. Call a mold remediation contractor to remove the mold, which can cause health issues.
  • Correct any moisture issues before remodeling your basement. Use the tips below and consult the EPA's guidelines for controlling moisture.

Stop Water Leaks

  • If there are water stains on the ceiling or wall, you may have an indoor leak. Call a plumber to investigate and repair the leak.
  • If there's standing water on the basement floor after a heavy rainfall, your problem likely comes from a leak in the foundation. Try these remedies:
    • Clean out the rain gutters and make sure the downspouts lead at least 3 feet away from the foundation.
    • Check the ground next to the foundation to see if it slopes away from the house. If it doesn't, you will need to re-grade the ground so it slopes down, away from the foundation.
    • Check your sump pump (if you have one) to make sure it's working properly.

Reduce Indoor Humidity

  • Use ventilation fans when cooking and during baths or showers and for 15 minutes afterwards. Make sure that the fans are exhausting the air to the outside, and not into the attic. Check the ductwork to ensure that it's not blocked or disconnected.
  • Use a dehumidifier in the basement during hot humid months to reduce condensation on the walls. For best results, seal air leaks in the building and the ducts. This will reduce the amount of humid outdoor air that enters the basement.
  • Seal air leaks in the building shell and seal air ducts to reduce humidity levels in your home.
  • Your clothes dryer is a large source of humidity. Make sure it's vented directly to the outside. Inspect the vent duct to ensure that it's clear of obstructions such as lint, and that it's attached securely to the dryer. If the vent duct is damaged or has holes that leak air, replace it with a metal duct. For your safety, clean the vent duct at least once a year. Use these safety tips for dryer vents from The Consumer Products Safety Commission.
  • Have an HVAC contractor inspect your heating and cooling system to make sure it's operating correctly and properly sized to remove the humidity from your home. Have them check your ductwork for proper sizing, air leaks and to see if enough air is flowing to each room.
  • If you have a dirt floor in your basement, cover it with a plastic sheet to reduce the amount of water vapor that evaporates up through the floor.

Home Energy Problems & Solutions:

We were unaware of what was involved in an energy audit and your audior took the time to explain everything. We were impressed with the report which told us the areas in which we need to take action on. He never pressured us to use any particular contractors, he just suggested that we go to the Building Energy Pros web site to select contractors of our own choice. He did an excellent job and we HIGHLY recommend the Building Energy Pros. We already have recommended them to several of our neighbors. Again, EXCELLENT JOB!
Cynthia Simpson

The Building Energy Pros auditor was very knowledgeable. I was VERY HAPPY with him. He promptly E-mailed my energy audit report to me and I will consider all of his recommendations.
Tom McGee

We found out that our house really has no energy problems. We are happy to know that we
Leslie Stewart

I was very satisfied with your energy auditor. He was very qualified and spent a great deal of time with me. The energy audit was very informative.
P.B.

The energy auditor was very good and helpful. He keeps in touch with me to answer any of my questions.
D.G.

I was very satisfied with my energy audit. The auditor gave me some tips on attic insulation that were very helpful.
R.G.

I was very satisfied with my energy audit. Thank you!
R.S.

Very good service! I am going to replace the windows as the auditor had suggested.
D.W.

I was very happy with the energy audit. THANKS!
A. M.

My energy audit was very helpful. Joe Dempsey, your auditor, identified some structural problems that I was not aware of and explained to me why I need more insulation.
J. F.

The auditor was EXCELLENT! He spent ALOT of time with me. I am going to take 3 to 4 of his suggestions and correct these small items to save on my energy bills.
M. B.

The auditor did a GREAT JOB! He knew a lot about older homes, which we have. The report was very comprehensive. Thank you!
Vicki Nez/at

Your energy auditor was very nice and helpful. He answered all of our questions. We will recommend Building Energy Pros to our friends and neighbors.
Katherine McCaffrey

The auditor did a TERRIFIC JOB! The report was FANTASTIC! I will make all the repairs he suggested. I will definitely recommend him to everyone I know that could benefit from a home energy audit.
Steve Sleigh, Chevy Chase

The energy auditor was very professional and I am very satisfied with both the energy audit and the report I received. I will be referring the Building Energy Pros.
Tim Clary

I was very satisfied with the auditor. He was great and gave me some very valuable information. I will refer him to people I know who may need a home energy audit.
Willie Gantt

Your home energy audit proved to be very informative and helpful. I was not aware of the updraft created inside our walls because of the balloon framing construction. You said that that can cause heat to be pulled out of the house with the draft going up inside the walls and should be re-mediated. You also said that the attic insulation was insufficient and that fiberglass batts can leave spaces for around the edges causing heat loss and that it should have blown in insulation on top of what was there to seal the whole attic and increase the r factor. After going over your findings and telling me how you would fix the problems you told me how I could do it myself with stuff from the Home Center and for a quarter of the cost. Well, I did. I went into the basement and filled the bottom of the wall joist with unfaced insulation where they set on the sill plate. I then cut one inch foam board the size for each space and set it in and the sealed the edges of that with expanding foam as well as the sill plate to the foundation. I also sealed the sill plate to the foundation where the joist ran along it, as well as the top of those joist where it made contact with the subflooring. Next I went to the home center and rented their blown insulation machine and got ten bales of the insulation. I filled the attic on top of the batt insulation with about six inches giving another r-19 factor on top of the r-19 that was there. You said that the blown in would also help seal the heat loss around the edges of the batt. The work in the basement cost $144.00 and the work in the attic cost $328.00. After the 30% federal energy tax credit it will end up costing me about $330.00, which you said I should recover in savings in the first year. Thank You for all your advice and expertise. You made me aware of things I should consider and did.
Tommy Thompson