In general, basements are colder and more humid than any other room in your house. To avoid costly disasters associated with moisture, be sure to check your basement for water issues before any home improvement or remodeling projects. And, as always, it is best to seek the guidance of professionals or at least do lots of research on your own prior to any other investment. There is great progress being made on materials that don’t trap moisture and provide for better air flow or circulation.
Start by checking out your yard drainage, as this can be a major source of flooded basements. Make sure the water slopes away from the foundation and that gutters and downspouts are properly attached and funnel water away from the house.
Basements or concrete slabs are the largest sources of moisture. Pores in concrete do not only let in moisture, but they actively draw it inside by capillary action. The average basement lets in 18 gallons of moisture each day, several times more than bathrooms and kitchen combined!
Aside from the inconvenience of mopping up water, wet basements can cause health hazards. Molds and dust mites aggravate or cause allergies and asthma, particularly, in children. The only effective way to control biological air contaminants like molds, fungi, dust mites, and bacteria is to control the cause.
If your basement has water issues, the main remedies are drain tiles, which help funnel water into a predetermined place. This usually is a sump pump, which stores the water and then pumps it out. Discuss these issues with waterproofing companies or general contractors before proceeding.