Basement Humidity issues

Lower temperatures and the potential for condensation is true of basements, just as in crawl spaces.

There is an important issue in many area basements: builders and owners often choose to finish basements to resemble the upstairs living spaces, including carpeting and drywall that is applied to the concrete walls. The concrete may be very porous to water penetration. Drywall placed over concrete walls in a basement can prevent normal airflow and drying of the concrete. If moisture is excessive, then significant moisture buildups can occur, creating very effective mold conditions. Also, flooring in a basement can be quite cool, providing localized temperatures that condense water directly on the floor, including on the carpeting.

Additional de-humidification is often a good choice in a basement, to reduce or eliminate the development of mold and that annoying musty smell that is often noted in basements. Left alone and untreated, that smell will get worse because the mold, which you may not be able to see, is going to get worse. It may go away in some seasons, but it’ll be back because while molds will go dormant, they only need moisture to pick up where they left off.

(Here’s something to think about: ancient mold spores have been found around Egyptian mummies, and they grew and reproduced in laboratories after waiting for moisture for thousands of years! If only our yards would wait this patiently for water . . .)