Does your basement always feel damp or humid when you walk into it? While this is a common issue with basements, it’s really not considered normal, and the excess moisture you’re feeling in the air can cause damage to your basement, foundation, and home.
The basement is one of the leading causes of excessive humidity in a home, but it doesn’t have to be. You can control the moisture levels with solutions like basement waterproofing and the use of a basement dehumidifier. When you control the humidity levels in the basement, it makes the space far more welcoming, and helps to reduce the risk of damage caused by the extra moisture.
Take a quick look at these top benefits of using a basement moisture control system.
Prevent Water Damage
A basement dehumidifier, or moisture control system, can help prevent water damage
from occurring. In all actuality, your home’s humidity level should stay somewhere around 40%. When it’s lower than that, it can be too dry. When it gets high (over 50%), it makes your home too humid, and humidity means moisture.
While humidity moisture doesn’t necessarily mean puddles on the ground, it’s still water in some form and will cause damage as such. Water damage doesn’t just come from seepage or flooding; it can be caused by humidity levels that translate to water and condensation in different ways.
With water damage, you may be facing things like:
- Cracks
- Structural damage
- Degradation of materials
- Damage to personal belongings
- Higher utility bills
- Mold or mildew
- Rotting wood
The humidity in your basement puts your home at risk!
Health of Home and Household
Since humidity is excess moisture, it can lead to health problems for the people in the home as well. If you think about what high humidity does, you have issues with odors, mold, mildew, and possibly allergens. In addition, there may be insects and pests as well.
All of these things contribute to poor air quality. If the air you’re breathing is unhealthy, then people will begin to feel the side effects. Bringing in things like mold can cause major sickness, but mold isn’t the only risk.
Excessive moisture and humidity degrade the overall air quality. It can make the air thick and hard to breathe in, too. Take care of your health and your household with moisture and humidity control systems.
Save Some Money!
When you have high humidity levels coming from a basement or crawlspace, they can affect the efficiency of your home’s heat and air systems. The air conditioner will have to work overtime to try to maintain the cooler temperatures. And you will have similar issues with the heat in the winter.
While HVAC units are designed to help control temperatures and humidity, they can only do so much. As humidity levels rise, they challenge the unit that much more to keep the home comfortable.
In addition, that excess moisture can be really hard on your units and impact their longevity. A moisture control system, like a basement dehumidifier, can help your unit work more effectively and efficiently. The end result is that you will save money on utility bills.
You will also save money by protecting your unit from excess wear, mold, and more. And you won’t have as much water damage and moisture side effects, which saves you even more money too!
Signs You Might Need a Basement Dehumidifier
So how do you know when a basement dehumidifier might be a good solution for your needs? There are several things to consider. You can typically tell if the space just feels damp or humid, but you may need other waterproofing solutions as well.
Feeling like your basement or home is too humid is the most obvious sign. Other indicators are:
- High humidity readings (50% or over)
- Mold and mildew
- Air feels damp or humid
- Floors feel muddy or moist
- Condensation on trims, surfaces, walls, etc.
- Musty or damp odors
In general, it is recommended to keep your home’s humidity somewhere between 35-45%. You don’t want it to get too low, but high humidity levels pose the biggest threat to your home and your health.
Don’t Ignore High Humidity
When you feel like there might be high humidity levels or you’re seeing humidity levels over 50% in the home, act quickly. These are clear indicators that you will benefit from a basement dehumidifier. Always work with a professional to ensure that the system is right for your needs and is installed properly.
These moisture control systems can help protect your home for many years.
