How to Improve a Wet Basement

A wet basement can cause mold to form on wooden walls.

Many problems can arise from a wet basement. Often times, insects and other pests are attracted to the wet area and can infest your home. Rot and mold are other common problems that come with a wet basement. Also consider your personal belongings, which can be destroyed by water damage. Improving your wet basement requires finding and preventing the cause of the moisture buildup.

Instructions

1. Locate the problem area. You may actually see water on the floor, or you may just see signs of moisture, such as moldy walls or loose floor tiles. Musty carpet is another common sign of moisture. Main problems of wet basements include surface water, groundwater, and humidity.

2. Throw out items that have been damaged by the water or moisture buildup. Keeping these items can cause continuous problems with mildew and mold. If you have a possession you don't want to throw away, clean it thoroughly with a mold-cleaning product.

3. Eliminate surface water from your basement. This could require cleaning your downspout more often as a buildup of debris could be sending water along your foundation and into your basement. You may also need to replace your downspouts with larger ones or add downspout extensions if they are continuously clogged.

4. Control groundwater that may be entering your basement. This requires either fixing small cracks in your basement wall from the inside or contacting a professional basement specialist or structural engineer to fix the problem. A professional is usually required if you have large cracks in your basement walls or if a drainage system must be installed around your home.

5. Prevent humidity from causing a moisture buildup in your basement. Common ways to improve moisture buildup include installing energy-efficient windows, using a dehumidifier, or using an air conditioner. You may also need to put a tight-sealing cover on your sump pump, pour a concrete floor in your crawl space, or install proper dryer exhausts.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid hanging wet laundry in your basement. This will cause a small amount of moisture buildup, but it's enough to cause potential mold problems when added to other causes of moisture buildup, such as an improperly vented dryer.

References

• BobVila.com: How to Dry a Wet Basement