How to Keep Basement Dry

Even if your basement goes unused, you must ensure it is dry and does not cause structural issues. They're susceptible to accumulating moisture due to their location, which can be an ongoing issue. 

Before undertaking any of the tips below, you need to investigate issues with damp if they're serious and causing severe issues. It could be high humidity, condensation, or poor ventilation, but there may be issues with failed plumbing, brickwork, and structural problems. 

5 Tips to keep basements dry 

What works for you depends on the exact issues, and where the damp is coming from. If the issues below don't help in the long term, you may need to conduct an assessment with a professional. 

1. Use a dehumidifier 

Dehumidifiers can be a great way to remove and capture excess humidity and moisture in the air in a home environment. This can prevent issues such as peeling paint, condensation on walls, and a humid feel in the air. 

To tackle an entire basement space, you'll need something that's professional standard. Hiring a dehumidifier from Speedy Hire can ensure the following: 

• you are using an appliance which is capable of extracting large volumes of water per day 

• you can get humidity down to a pre-set level, and the room doesn't dry out too much 

• you can hire the equipment as and when needed, as opposed to storing the unit 

A self-draining system can ensure the unit keeps running without manually emptying the tank, which is great if the job takes a while to resolve itself. 

Banish Damp from your Home Today

2. Insulate pipework 

Insulate any pipework passing through the basement, as this can interfere if the basement is cold or hot, adding to the humidity. 

Insulating cold water pipes will not only prevent pipes from freezing. Still, it will also reduce condensation forming along them when humidity is high, which can cause humidity to spread and mould to grow. Insulating hot water pipes can conserve energy and prevent your heater from overworking and can also help keep the temperature in your basement lower. 

3. Insulate walls and foundations 

You should also insulate the walls and ceiling to maintain an optimum temperature. Temperature fluctuations can cause excess damp and humidity, especially in winter and summer. 

Polyurethane foam is recommended. If your basement is bare stone or brickwork, talk to a professional about plaster boarding it over damp proofing. 

4. Keep an eye on your landscaping 

During heavy rain, check your basement walls. Is water gathering in certain places? If so, what are the walls like just up from this in your house, at the floor level of your ground floor? 

If they're also damp, what is on the exterior of these walls? Large bushes, soil, and other foliage that prevent the walls and stonework from breathing can cause damp issues. They also hold water, allowing it time to penetrate into the walls. 

These features are often higher than ground level, so water can struggle to escape. 

Remove anything blocking water from getting away around your property. Speedy Hire has a range of landscaping equipment available to hire, whether you need to remove grass and soil or cut back overgrowth. 

Always wear PPE when using gardening tools. Eye protection, gloves, and work boots are required. 

5. Check for penetrating damp 

It isn't just greenery which can cause issues. Structural problems, cracks, blocked guttering, or cracks between a building and surrounding footpath can all be ideal places for damp to come into the house. If any of these are present, fix them ASAP to prevent further damage. 

It would be best if you also considered the following: 

• Removing pebbledash, which can prevent airflow to walls 

• If paint has been used on your house, is it suitable for external use? 

• Have you had damp proof coursing installed incorrectly? 

• Are any vents and air bricks blocked?