Tips For Keeping Your Basement Dry

6/23/2019 (Permalink)

Water or moisture in your basement can lead to worse

A wet basement is one of the worst nightmares for a homeowner. Unfortunately, moisture promotes mildew and mold growth. Therefore, what may just appear to be just a tiny trickle or small puddle is actually a warning sign of a much bigger problem. In lieu of this, it is important to keep your basement dry.

Here are some tips on how to keep your basement dry. 

• Even if your basement isn’t finished, paint your walls with a water resistant paint. By painting a water-resistant paint onto the interior walls of your basement, you’ll help to prevent water from seeping through your walls and into your basement. 

• Make sure the ground around the exterior of your home slopes away from your foundation. If the slope is toward the basement, water can flow through the foundation and into your basement. 

• Install gutters and downspouts around your home. Gutters help catch water flowing from your roof and guide it away from your home. This prevents water from falling off the roof and landing on the surface area directly adjacent to your foundation.

• Place rocks or gravel around the base or foundation of your home. Rocks or gravel  help to absorb water, which can prevent excess water from seeping into your home. 

• Lots of people have appliances such as water heaters or washing machines in their basements. It is best to constantly inspect these to make sure they are working properly and not leaking. It is also best to make sure all of your appliances such as washers and dryers vent to the outside. As appliances vent, they produce hot air. When the hot air they vent comes into contact with cool air in your basement, condensation can often form. By venting your appliances to the outside of your home, prevents this from happening, which keeps your basement dry.

• A great appliance to add to your basement is a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are great for keeping humidity low in a basement. It can effectively reduce the amount of moisture in the air, which will work towards preventing mold and mildew growth. 

Keeping your basement dry will not only reduce mold and mildew growth, but will therefore also make it a safer area for you and your family. Even if your just using your basement for storage, you and your family are exposed to mold when it grows anywhere within your home. When water intrudes and gets inside, mold can accumulate in as little as 48 hours. If your basement is already wet or you notice mold or mildew growth, you need a professional to help you with clean-up. It needs to be done properly and safely. At SERVPRO of Burlington we are here for you 24/7 and 365 days a year. Just give us a call at 336-379-1772