Easy Solutions for a Damp Basement | Ask This Old House

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In this video This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches Kevin O’Connor what he needs to know about handling wet basements.

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains basement moisture control to Kevin O'Connor. After discussing some of the most common causes of wet basements and their consequences, Richard shows Kevin some methods for controlling them. Richard then explains how dehumidifiers work and how they may be the best option.

Wet Basement Woes are Hardly Universal
Believe it or not, only about 40 percent of homes in the U.S. have basements. However, of those homes that do have basements, 60 percent have moisture problems. These problems may include rainwater not dispelling far enough from the eaves, groundwater soaking through the foundation, or moisture vapor making its way into the home. And despite not everyone having these issues, everyone who does dislikes them.

Why Wet Basements are a Problem
Make no mistake, wet basements can be a problem—especially when it comes to mold. Mold needs three things to grow: the right temperature, moisture, and organic matter. All of these conditions exist in the average wet basement, and mold can grow, causing damage and health concerns.

When Grade is an Issue
Sometimes, the issue is that the grade pitches back toward the home. In these cases, there are two options: regrade the property or install French drains around the outside of the building. Both options will route the water out to the yard and prevent it from soaking into the basement.

Also, adding downspout extensions to the gutters may allow the rainwater collecting on the roof to drain further away from the home. This can protect the foundation and prevent water from soaking the ground around the basement walls.

When It’s Groundwater or Vapor
Most of the materials used to construct foundations aren’t waterproof. Poured concrete, concrete blocks, and fieldstone are porous and will allow water to get into the basement. The option here is to seal the walls with hydraulic cement or epoxy paint. Another option is to use plastic sheeting to keep the moisture from making its way into the basement.

One other option that’s popular in basement spaces is a floating subfloor with a plastic backing. These hard plastic backings have feet that hold them up off the floor and allow water to pass underneath them without soaking the USB on top.

If It’s Humidity
Not all humidity is bad (in fact, humans are most comfortable around 30 percent humidity). However, high humidity levels in a basement can be a problem. For these conditions, the best solution is often a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers are essentially low-powered air conditioners. They have cold coils on which moist air condenses. Once it condenses, it falls into a tank that the homeowner has to empty. They also have hose spouts that act as drains, and some even come with pumps that push the condensed water out of the unit and into a drain.

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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Easy Solutions for a Damp Basement | Ask This Old House
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The way he explains everything so thoroughly is so good. Anyone can understand and remember what he said.

SportsFan
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My house was built in 1870 with a red stone boulders topped with a double wall brick. I noticed a big difference when I started to use a dehumidifier in the walls not getting damp and metal objects not rusting. Thanks for the video.

scotsmanofnewengland
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At common temperatures, mold starts just after 65%. I keep my crawlspace dehumidifier set at 60%. It's not as comfortable as 40-50%, but it's not meant to be comfortable, it's meant to keep mold from growing without unnecessarily using energy.

dtemp
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Set dehumidifier on a low shelf. Attach garden hose to the unit and place end of garden hose in sump pump well.

usnva
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You couldn’t have timed this better with a record breaking rain storm in the Midwest and tons of freshly wet basements!

jmklamm
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Just a little FYI if your basement is below 68° you may find that your dehumidifier ices up. That's what happened to mine and what I did to solve the problem was I bought a real small portable heater 500 watts . I bought it on Amazon for about 12 bucks and I put it in front of the air intake it only raised it to about 71 72 degrees but that was enough to keep it from freezing up at it is working just fine now. Take care and be safe

ntom
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“Control the water, and control the humidity” 👌 Perfect summary of what needs to be done. Never thought about those two separately.

heinzotto
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These guys are the best have owned my home since 2017 and are my go to for ideas on tackling my projects

Detective-Jimenez
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while 35% humidity may seem ideal, most basements are not tight enough to reach that level without the unit running 24/7, which will jack up your utility bill. I have found 50% or so to be enough to get rid of sweaty pipes and my unit runs just a fraction of the time. You may also find a no-frills unit at a tag sale for pennies on the dollar, and all it needs is a cleaning. The older models will last 20 - 40 years with intermittent use, unlike the new ones. BTW, I have a rubble rock foundation in lower New England, so we get dampness!

rupe
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Put in rain gardens!! Helps prevent erosion, foundation damage, damp basements and it helps the environment. Its best to tell the water where it should go especially when its 10 feet away from the house and native plants have deeper routes that soak in that water.

brent
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Loved how he introduced the pints/day measurement for dehumidifiers while holding a pint glass in his hand!

HebaruSan
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Great segment. One detail of note : for human HEALTH, the optimum range is 40 to 60% and not the 25-30% you stated. You can find this in ASHRAE standards and many other health related documentation. Of course, it's hard to keep this level in old houses which are not airtight, but it's still worth mentioning.

Damorann
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The best humidity level is under 55% and usually over 40 or 45%. Under 55 kills all the dust mites. Too much under 45 and it will be less healthy again.

davidhoover
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Sump pumps and proper piping work best along with great landscaping and poured concrete wall with drain board construction these four items equal a dry basement.

shopart
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We just spent $8k on an around the house French Drain. Make sure if you install one—INSIST on at least 1 inch washed round river rock. Do not use pea gravel.

GreyGhost-rz
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The wood product is called Dricore and used to be good (early 2000s). It used to be 3/4 particle board over 1/4 dimple membrane. Its now just under 1/2" particle board with the 1/4 membrane. The quality has also gone down since about 2019 when they decreased the sizing. Its always not compressed as well, so it warps easily. We had to remove some when it got water damage and the new stuff doesn't connect with the older, better stuff.

Roundaboutrecords
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The dehumidifier uses so much electricity though and you have to run it constantly. An electrician told me once that if you put a few box fans around the basement just moving air around can help with the "musty" -ness. It wouldn't use as much electricity, i haven't tried that though..

Animusapertus
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Informative. I had no idea about the humidity in baser

txshah
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I would like for ATOH to do a video comparing dehumidifiers for quality, price, longevity and repairs. I am sick of purchasing them and they don't last but maybe 2 years. Frigidaire was my last purchase and it had the shortest life.

speedpedals
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The ge model you showed I own. It works great and it has a built in pump

Platinumpitviper