Last Updated: February 26, 2024
Basements are an integral part of homes around the world. They are more than just extra rooms and provide additional space, recreational room, guest accommodation, or even that extra storage right there under your floor. Furthermore, a functional basement adds extra value to your property.
Moisture Basement
Basements have their own challenges when maintaining indoor air quality, and managing moisture in the cellar is more complicated than the rest of the house. Excessive humidity in basements can lead to mold growth, health issues, and structural damage.
According to the Basement Health Association, relative humidity (Rh) levels above 80% in basements cause mold and mildew to develop. When moist air encounters cool places such as basements, walls, and uninsulated water pipes, the moisture in the wet air condenses and forms puddles of water in the basement.
Moisture can seep in the basement while heavy rains due to lack of proper drainage. Rainwater not cleared would find its way into the ground of the foundation of the house, thereby creating a wet ground. Moisture from the damp ground forces its way into the floors and walls of your home via hydrostatic pressure.
Modern houses are generally built on the ground with high water retention capacity. This groundwater gets trapped after rainfall, and the hydrostatic pressure pushes the water into the walls and other spaces around the residence.
Signs of High Moisture in Basement
While the tell-tale damp feeling on the skin and musty smell filling your nostrils when you walk into a humid place are familiar, other signs of moisture are not always easy to notice. Symptoms of excess moisture in the basement may include but are not limited to:
Higher Humidity levels: Use a hygrometer to check the humidity level in the basement. If the hygrometer reading comes above 50 to 55%, then the basement is more humid than it should be.
Damp feeling: If your basement feels damp on your skin, then humidity levels in your basement are likely higher than they should be.
Odors: High humidity levels intensify odors. If your basement has a musty smell, the chances are that the humidity levels are higher than usual. A musty basement smell can be related to various problems, including mold or mildew growth, or even possibly rot.
Condensation on cold surfaces: If the basement windows are fogging up frequently or water pooling on the inside window sills, it signifies higher humidity levels in the basement.
Visible rot and decay: Rot can manifest itself in a variety of different ways. Wood infected with rot reflects a change in the color of the wood from white, brown, blue, black, or grey. Other than a change in color, a shift in wood structure can also indicate rot.
Peeling or cracking paint: Peeling, blistering, and/or cracking paint on walls, floors, and other painted surfaces also indicate higher than normal humidity levels.
Other signs of higher humidity levels include mold growth returning on walls and windows, despite repeated cleaning. Watermarks on floors indicate moisture is rising through the foundation.
Best Dehumidifiers to prevent mold growth.
If you notice these signs or symptoms in the basement, it is critical to take action immediately. Letting the problem linger may lead to more damage over time.
Apart from the cosmetic effects, excessive humidity levels can also have adverse effects on your health and your family’s health. Black mold produces a type of substance called mycotoxin. Exposure to toxic mold over a long period can adversely affect the respiratory system as well as lead to health issues such as Nausea, skin inflammation, fatigue, and even cognitive impairment. Mold spores are incredibly tricky to eliminate, even with recurrent cleaning.
Another reason to get those moisture levels under control is dust mites. As per the American Lung Association, approximately 80% of consumer homes in the U.S. have the unwanted allergen in their houses, which can cause sneezing, runny nose, sinusitis, and respiratory conditions. According to the American Lung Association, the most effective method of keeping dust mites under control is maintaining humidity below 50% in the living space.
A basement dehumidifier can help keep humidity below 50%, prevent mold and mildew growth, improve indoor air quality, and prevent structural damage.
How Does a Dehumidifier Keep the Basement Dry?
A dehumidifier reduces the humidity levels by drying the air. Dehumidifiers are equipped with cooled metal fins with a temperature lower than space’s dew point temperature, at which condensation forms. As the fans circulate the air, the chilled fins condense the moisture. The dehumidifier accumulates the condensed water in a tray or redirects it to a container. A commercial dehumidifier can remove up to 300 pints of water per day, depending on the model.
A basement dehumidifier is equipped with additional features and functionalities to operate efficiently in a basement. Many standard dehumidifiers that work effectively above ground are ill-equipped to handle environmental variables unique to a basement, such as colder temperatures, increased level of moisture. A basement dehumidifier can effectively manage the environmental challenges present in the basement and is capable of drying out moisture deeply imbedded within the small cracks of your basement and foundation. A basement dehumidifier is designed to work efficiently at temperatures below 65 degrees and perform excellently in challenging environments to remove moisture from the basement.
How it works and Other Benefits of Basement Dehumidifier
Minimize Flood Damage: In the event of flooding, the basement is the worst affected place. It is essential to quickly remove water. Even after completely drying the basement, the basement air becomes saturated with water vapor and can trigger mold and mildew growth and clammy odors, as well as secondary damage such as warped floors and ceilings, metal corrosion, etc. Stagnant air can also lengthen the drying process, and may impact the structure.
A dehumidifier will help circulate the air around the basement and stop condensation. It will help eliminate excess moisture left over after the flood, which can be harmful to the walls and furnishing and conducive to mold growth.
Protects valuable equipment: Higher levels of humidity cause metals to rust and corrode faster; it also makes electronics prone to shorting out. Commercial buildings house critical technology and equipment in the basement; hence they should be kept in an environment conducive to preservation.
Make the environment less hospitable to pests: A pest can be mold contamination setting in or a plague of insects and grow in warm, humid climates. Mold, especially, is a threat to the structure, as it spreads quickly and cannot be easily removed. Maintaining optimum humidity levels is essential to fight pest invasion.
Improves comfort and health: While basements are not high traffic zones, however, people do spend time in these places, especially in commercial settings. Maintaining humidity levels will allow workers to breathe easily and make the area comfortable. Furthermore, workers would also not get exposed to mold and pests, which can trigger allergies or respiratory conditions.
Prevents Structural Damage: High level of humidity can cause structural damage to the house by building moisture on the walls and wood. A basement dehumidifier will allow you to control the humidity levels, and keep the basement dry and maintain your floor system’s structural integrity and walls.
Averts Allergens: Moisture in the basement may lead to the growth of allergens, such as dust mites, mold, and mildew. These airborne allergens can impact the health of you and your family. Installing a basement dehumidifier helps control moisture, eliminating the unwanted allergens that come with a damp basement.
Prevents Musty Odors: Basement moisture creates mold and mildew, which spreads nasty odor throughout the home, creating an unpleasant living space. Dehumidifiers eliminate the musty smell by pulling moisture from the air, preventing mold and mildew from growing.
Energy Savings: High humidity levels can make your home feel clammy. The air-condition needs to work harder to remove moisture and keep the air cool, leading to higher energy costs. Overworked appliances also become prone to malfunction, which can lead to costly repairs and possible replacement of the unit.
Protect health: Mold reproduces by putting microscopic spores into the air. These airborne organisms trigger allergic reactions and respiratory ailments in many individuals. Effective dehumidifying in below-grade spaces like the basement or crawl space can end to this severe form of indoor air pollution.
Round the Clock Support: Basement Dehumidifier comes very handy in flood-prone areas or areas with drainage problems as they can work round the clock to keep moisture out notwithstanding of the prevalent weather conditions.
Using a dehumidifier will prolong the life of window and door frames. Additionally, clothes, curtains, and books will last longer when not absorbing moisture.
Best dehumidifier for crawlspace
Things to Consider Before Buying Basement Dehumidifier
Finding the optimal basement dehumidifier is essential to maintain the humidity at an optimum level. There are a couple of factors to consider while selecting a basement dehumidifier. The amount of air needs to be processed, and the type of environment it is going to be used.
Knowing the square footage of your basement is the first step in picking the right dehumidifier and tank size. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has standardized the sizing of dehumidifiers, making it easier to determine the correct size of dehumidifier per requirement. For instance, a 2,000 sq. ft. basement will require a dehumidifier with a capacity of removing approximately 25 pints of moisture per day.
To determine the size of the dehumidifier, measure the basement’s cubic footage. It can be determined by measuring the length, width, and height of the room (each room, if there are multiple rooms in the basement) and multiplying them to find the cubic footage. If the basement is extremely humid, experts recommend selecting a dehumidifier that is rated for higher cubic footage.
The drying capacity of dehumidifiers is measured by the number of pints of water per sq. ft, it can liquidate from the air per day. For example, if a basement has standing water is present, then a dehumidifier that changes the air at least six times an hour per hour. If the cellar feels damp and smells musty, then three changes per hour are sufficient. If there are visible stains, mold, or mildew signs in the basement, then four or five air changes per hour would be enough.
Most manufacturers add a sizing chart on the package to help customers. If a sizing table is not available on the package, retailers will be able to help you to work out the pint removal capacity as long as you are aware of the square footage of your basement. If your basement size is between two sizes of dehumidifiers, always go for the larger sq. ft. Getting a bigger dehumidifier that removes more moisture per day will allow a bit of flexibility.
If you purchase the smaller size, it will have to work much harder to keep up with basic demands resulting in higher energy charges and overworked dehumidifiers. If you live in a climate with consistently high humidity, this will increase internal moisture. In this instance, a higher pint capacity humidifier will be necessary to remove more pint per sq. ft of moisture per day.
Determining the type of basement dehumidifier is also dependent on the intended and price. A spare bathroom or extra storage room will have different requirements than a basement intended to be a fully functional living room.
You can also check dehumidifiers with drain hose for the basement.