How Do You Protect Your Basement from Moisture?

Feb 8, 2016

It is great to be able to call yourself a homeowner until you realize all the blood, sweat, and tears that come with such a title. There are hundreds of little things that need to be taken care of around the house, and basements are a whole category in itself.

Everybody knows excessive moisture in the basement is bad news and there are multiple ways of controlling this moisture. Keep your basement dry and it will be healthy for your family as well as increase the value of your home should you ever resell. Here are a few thing you can try to keep the basement dry:

Invest in a Dehumidifier

30-50% relative humidity is ideal for a basement. In order to keep the air breathable, prevent mold growth, and prevent interior condensation, investing in a dehumidifier is a very good choice. A dehumidifier uses a fan to suck in moist air and then removes the moisture via a combination of cooling coils and a reheater. The excess moisture is collected in a reservoir. Simple dehumidifiers run in the $100 range, while dehumidifiers with larger capacities (around 50 pints) cost $250-500.

Invest in a Sump Pump

Water seepage is the worst and tends to happen mostly after it has rained. A sump pump is designed to pump into a sump basin and then drain safely away from the home. There are two types available: pedestal and submersible sump pumps. If you do not want a lot of noise pollution in the house then go with a submersible sump pump. Be smart and invest in a backup power source too should the power ever go out during a storm when the pump is most needed.

Invest in a Basement Water Detector

If you can’t manage to keep track and need a reminder, then get a basement water detector to alarm you. The detector has a sensor that can detect water and moisture and alarm you. For a little more money, you could get a model equipped with wifi that will send an alert directly to your smartphone. Basic water alarms cost $10-15…keeping your basement dry is well worth this simple investment.

These three affordable investments could save you a lot of money and headache down the road. For all your basement waterproofing needs in Toronto, Brampton, Ottawa, and throughout Ontario, give The Crack Doctor a call!

 

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