December 12th, 2017
Basement moisture problems can range from a high humidity level in the basement to the entry of liquid water. The resulting problems can include mildew damage, water damage, rotting building components and structural problems, and even health effects. Rainwater is one of the most important causes of basement moisture problems. Ensuring that rainwater is directed away from the foundation is one of the first and most important steps in solving basement moisture problems. This will be the main topic of this paper. Other common sources of basement moisture include the entry of warm, humid outdoor air into the cool basement, high groundwater levels beneath the building, and plumbing leaks.A backdrafting furnace, or an unvented clothes dryer can also introduce large amounts of moisture into the basement. While it is possible to spend several thousand dollars to correct such problems, in many cases such expense may not be necessary. Basement moisture and flooding can often be corrected by some simple measures easily taken by the homeowner.