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Tips For Drying Out A Damp Basement

28 December 2016

Terra Fields

If your home's basement has chronic problems with excessive humidity during the winter season, then you will be pleased to learn that there are many things you can do to help promote its drying out. Finding ways to remove the moisture out of your basement is vital because otherwise mold and mildew will grow. Mold spores are harmful to your family and pets and will make your basement have a funky smell. In order to reduce the moisture in your home's basement and prevent mold growth, follow these tips:

Tip: Address the Root Cause of the Moisture

If your home's basement never has standing water in it but seems to always have a lot of humidity, then it is important to determine the root cause of the moisture and take steps to stop it. Places you should check include:

• rain gutters
• sprinkler systems
• property drainage

If your rain gutters are dumping a large amount of water near your home's foundation, then they should be repaired and the water rerouted. Sprinklers operating too close to your home's foundation can cause excessive moisture and should be moved out away from the foundation. And, if your property is not draining properly, then you should have it regraded to move storm waters down to your local storm drains.

Tip: Use a Dehumidifier in Your Home's Basement

To remove humidity from the air in your basement and encourage the space to stay dry, you can use a dehumidifier. Rather than adding moisture to the room as a humidifier would, a dehumidifier is a small electrical appliance that removes moisture from the air. The water it removes will collect in a reservoir inside of the dehumidifier and will need to be dumped out regularly. During the first couple of days of use, you need to check the dehumidifier's water reservoir every few hours to determine how often you will need to clean it out. 

Tip: Place Silica Desiccant Packs Around the Basement

Finally, one of the most effective ways to remove humidity from the air in your home's basement is to place silica desiccant packs in various places around the room. Silica naturally absorbs water molecules from the air and is a perfect solution for basements that do not flood but that have issues with high humidity. You can purchase inexpensive silica desiccant packs at your local home improvement store and should put them on high shelves where they are out of the reach of curious children and pets. Silica is harmful if you swallow it, so the packs need to be kept in a safe place. Visit websites like iaspackaging.com to learn more.

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