Damp basements are a common problem and because many of us don’t really spend any time down there, they can often be a bit of an afterthought when it comes to home maintenance- out of sight, out of mind, right?
This philosophy might be more harmful than you’d think; your stuff, your home and even your health could be put at risk if you ignore dampness in your basement.
Luckily, with a little knowledge, you can banish the dankness below and reclaim the space under your home and your peace of mind.
Understanding Basement Moisture
There are lots of ways that water can find its way into your basement. The three most common are:
Condensation
When warm, humid air touches a cold surface (like an exposed basement wall), the moisture in the air reverts to a liquid and coats the surface. Over time, this builds up creating all kinds of dampness related problems.
Runoff
You might not think that rain hitting your roof is much of a threat to your basement or foundations, but if it’s not carefully managed through guttering, downspouts, and good drainage, it can find its way into places it really shouldn’t.
Groundwater
The earth around your home contains a certain amount of water. When this becomes saturated the water has to go somewhere and, unfortunately, sometimes it penetrates your basement’s waterproofing.
However the moisture has found its way into your basement, the effects can be serious and if left unchecked, they can often get worse over time, risking your home and health in the process.
Even fairly minor signs like a slightly damp wall can quickly get out of hand.
The Effects of moisture in the basement
Far from just being a bit of an inconvenience and making your basement a less pleasant place to spend time, dampness in your basement and foundations can pose some serious risks, especially if the issue is ignored.
Health Risks
There are two major threats to your family’s health that can come from moisture in the home, mold growth and poor air quality.
Mold Growth
Mold thrives in damp, dark conditions and absolutely loves nooks and crannies where it can grow undisturbed. Unfortunately, those adjectives apply to a lot of basements. Between water ingress and being used for storage of papers and textiles, damp basements are an absolute Eden for molds and mildew.
Apart from being unpleasant and ruining whatever possessions that it’s growing on, mold presents some really serious risks to health.
Firstly, if you happen to be allergic to the spores, mold in the home can be a real nightmare. From streaming eyes and runny noses all the way up to serious respiratory distress, a moldy home is far from the sanctuary you’d want it to be. As well as being a threat to those who are already allergic, others may find new allergies developing after exposure.
Even if you’re not allergic to molds, their presence in the home can place strain on even healthy respiratory systems. If someone in the home is particularly susceptible (say, a young child or someone who suffers from asthma) this can even lead to death in the most extreme cases.
Mold is not to be taken lightly.
Poor Air Quality
Even if mold isn’t growing, a damp basement will contribute to decreased air quality in your home which can contribute to issues like coughs and wheezes. Poor air quality can also exacerbate asthma and allergies too, so it’s something to be taken seriously.
Property Damage
Moisture can also pose some major risks to your home and possessions, especially if left unaddressed.
Structural Damage
The most serious damage that moisture can do to your home is structurally weakening the foundation walls which hold up your home. If left unfixed, this could eventually lead to all kinds of problems from cracks in the walls to subsidence to, in the most extreme cases, structural collapse.
As water finds its way in and out of your basement, it creates damage. Over time, this damage will get worse and worse until you’re facing serious structural problems.
Peeling paper, micro-fissures expanding into cracks and bowing walls are all signs to keep a close eye out for before things get out of hand.
Damage to Personal Property
A dry, watertight basement is a great place to store things. A damp basement, not so much.
Many of the things that we can’t bring ourselves to throw out but don’t want to spend our lives tripping over naturally migrate downwards into our storage space. Important documents, the kids’ artworks, old magazines and books, furniture, bed sheets- it all finds its way down there.
Unfortunately, a lot of these things make the ideal habitat for molds and mildews, which will absolutely ruin anything porous.
Decreased Property Value
With the things that we’ve discussed here in mind, is it any wonder that basement suffering from moisture problems will take a major bite out of any price you might be offered should you decide to sell up?
No one wants a wet basement and realtors and buyers will ensure that the costs that come from fixing it are reflected in the price.
Preventing and Addressing Basement Moistur
Of course, if you do find yourself with a soggy basement space, all is not lost. There are steps that you can take to address the issue and stop it happening again.
Depending on your particular issues, you may want to consider installing a dehumidifier, a sump pump, fixing your guttering or, in extreme cases, regrading your home through some serious landscaping.
Whenever you’re facing an issue around waterproofing, it’s always a good idea to seek the advice of a professional. They will be able to identify any issues, their root-causes and guide you through any work that might be needed before carrying it out.
When it comes to signs of dampness in your basement (or anywhere in your home) it’s best to deal with it as soon as possible- delays can let underlying problems worsen and no one wants a soggy basement.