Dealing with a Wet Basement? Tips on How to keep it Dry

Dealing with a Wet Basement? Tips on How to keep it Dry

Damp, dark and a bit creepy, basements are an often underutilized location in homes. This is mainly due to the fact that basements tend to be wet, which makes it hard to enjoy the area or safely store items in it. However, just because your basement is soggy right now doesn’t mean that it has to stay that way. Keep in mind that in some cases, you may need the help of a qualified experts, you can get a quote here if necessary. But that shouldn’t stop you from implementing the following steps into your home maintenance to-do list.

Keep those Gutters Clean
Clogged gutters are one of the biggest reasons for a wet, soggy basement. The whole purpose of gutters is to move the water away from your home. When they are clogged or blocked – due to leaves, grime and other debris – the water cannot flow away from the home and instead goes right down the home’s foundation and straight into the basement. If you’re home doesn’t have downspouts or gutters installed, you should look at getting them put in place as soon as possible.

Mind the Landscape
Your home’s landscaping can play an important role in whether or not your basement stays dry. Water accumulating along the foundation of your home can seep through the basement walls. That is why it is important to ensure the ground slopes away from the home.

Install Insulation on the Pipes
Those cold water pipes running through your basement will develop condensation, which puts more moisture in the air and water in the basement. Covering the pipes with inexpensive insulation will prevent condensation from forming and will help keep the pipes from freezing during the cold winter months.

Protect the Basement Walls
As discussed earlier in the article, moisture can seep through the walls of your basement, which is often called weeping. If, however, you paint the basement walls with water-resistant paint, which is readily available at home improvement stores, you will stop the moisture from coming through the walls.

Open those Windows
If your basement is equipped with windows, opening them when the weather allows it will go a long way to start the air flowing, which in turn will help dry the basement. Furthermore, open windows will help get rid of that musty smell that basements are known for.

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