Why Is the Basement Cold?

The basement needs to be water and airtight for temperature control.

The basement is legendary for dampness and heat loss and burns through a whole lot of cold cash if problems are left unresolved. Fortunately, most energy efficiency issues arising from the home’s lowest floor can be remedied. Before excavating the perimeter to check for or repair an exterior issue, rule out a few simpler and more cost effective possibilities.

Air Leaks

If your home seems drafty, the "chimney effect" could be to blame. As hot air from your home’s heating system rises to the highest point of the house, the chimney effect causes the air-depleted lower space to replace the missing air by drawing it in through cracks. Caulking smaller cracks of one-fourth inch or less throughout the attic and basement should suffice. You will require spray foam for larger fractures of over one-fourth inch to 3-inches wide. Fill all basement ceiling gaps around wires and pipes as well to further decrease drafts, suggests the U.S. Department of Energy.

Insulation

Most energy codes require proper basement insulation.

Concrete draws in a great deal of coldness from the ground or air outside. You can insulate the basement walls of a home while it’s under construction with a layer of foam on the exterior, interior or center of the concrete foundation's outskirt. The least expensive and easiest way to install insulation in an older home with a cold basement is by layering insulation directly on the inside concrete walls after sealing any air leaks. Speak with your local building supplies retailer to find out which type or R-value of insulation is recommended in your area and to get advice on installation.

Rising Heat

Heat naturally rises, but what goes up can also come back down. Achieve a balanced temperature throughout your home year-round by utilizing the warm and cold air already available inside your dwelling -- without installing an HVAC system. Speak with a heating specialist about incorporating a secondary air-return into your existing furnace; the added ductwork aids in redistributing the cold and warm air for an even, temperate mix from top to bottom.

Dampness

A damp basement is a cold basement. Unfortunately, if you’ve filled all cracks and checked your gutters for clogs yet continue to experience lower-floor water leaks every time it rains, you may need to replace your home’s drain tile and reapply a fresh layer of watertight damp-proofing material, such as a tar and vapor barrier. Over the years, the drain tile that carries water around the exterior of the basement floor can become blocked, causing water to "pool" and seep in by capillary action. For a newly constructed foundation or a complete basement redo, ensure the ground is excavated to properly slope away from the house and check that sufficient basement damp-proofing efforts -- according to your local jurisdiction -- are made on both sides of the foundation walls.

References

• Power Zoning: The Air Stratification Problem
• U.S. Department of Energy: Basement Insulation
• The Building Science Consortium: Basement Insulation Systems