Dealing with a humid basement can be a pain. Learn why it is happening and how to fix it.
High humidity levels are caused by excess moisture in your basement. This can happen for various reasons, such as poor drainage or insufficient ventilation through the basement.
Humidity problems are oftentimes not the disease but rather a symptom of other issues. Humidity can be brought into your basement through the air, liquid water runoff, and a couple of other ways (but we'll keep it simple for this article).
Drainage systems are crucial for keeping moisture out of your basement. If you have poor drainage systems, humidity will easily find its way into your home. The most common basement drainage systems are the drain tile system, baseboard system, and a sump pump.
Another common issue we see is the slope of yards funnel towards homes instead of letting the water roll down and away from homes. Combine that with clogged gutters and downspouts, and you have a real issue at hand. The water enters your basement and causes unwanted humidity.
Ventilation can help carry moisture out of your home. This is the reason why basements are breeding grounds for mold and moisture. There generally is not much air flow in basements, and the moisture has nowhere to go. It ends up building up in the basement.
Appliances, such as washers, dryers, bathrooms, and kitchens can cause unwanted humidity problems. If you are running any of these appliances in or near your basement, they could be the source of the issues.
Sometimes new homes' basements can carry moisture and the problems that come along with it.
Okay, what you came here for, right? How do you fix humidity issues in your basement? Truth be told, there may be some things you can do to lessen the symptoms, but if there is a "disease" in the basement, you need to fix it at its source, or the problems will keep coming back.
The dehumidifier is the most commonly known way to get rid of humidity in your basement. You power it on and let it do its thing.
However, as mentioned before, this may not fix your basement humidity issues for good. If water is entering your home through an external source, the dehumidifier won't fix that. You'll need to have it looked at by a professional to see what fixes need to be done.
It is generally safe to run a dehumidifier all day. Most dehumidifiers will only run when needed and shut off once they reach a safe level.
Sometimes drainage systems are the only way to go to really fix your humidity issues.
Yes, 60% humidity is too high for basements. Generally, a safe humidity level is between 30-50%, but that can vary a bit depending on where you live and the conditions of your environment.
Once humidity levels reach above 55%, mold can start to grow. That is why it is so important to keep moisture out of your basement, as mold is a serious health risk for people of all ages.
Have you ever felt energy-less on a humid day? It's not just you. High humidity levels can cause health and energy side effects. Moisture also can block your body from releasing heat, causing your body to over-heat in humid living conditions.
The only sure way to guarantee a fix for your humidity issues is to hire a team of professionals that know what they're doing and have experience with these specific issues.
Is your basement floor warping?
Find out why it is happening and how to fix it.
The two main causes of warping and curling in basement floors is temperature and moisture.
When there is a difference in temperature and moisture between the top and bottom of a concrete slab, sometimes this will cause curling.
Some parts of the concrete slab will be dry and some wet. The dry parts contract and the wet parts do not, leaving parts of the concrete wanting to go up and other parts wanting to sink down.
Oftentimes cracks will occur alongside curling.
If you have a hardwood floor installed in your basement, moisture and temperature can also cause warping in the wood.
Moisture collects under the surface. Some parts will be dry or cool, others will not which leaves parts of the wood warped and other parts not.
Warping of the slab, oftentimes known as curling, is when parts of your concrete slab slant up or downwards because of the temperature and moisture difference in separate parts of the concrete. Dry parts will often curl up along the edges, and wet parts sink down in the middle.
Oftentimes cracks will occur when a basement floor curls, but this is not always detrimental. Sometimes cracks will occur, but the foundation load is still okay to hold. It's best to hire a professional to inspect your specific situation.
Some basements floors will bulge upwards, whereas others will sink downwards. The cause of this depends on what the underlying issue is.
If your warped basement floor needs fixing, there may be several options. The cost depends on which option you go with. Foundation repair is oftentimes not cheap, but it can be a great investment into the safety and worth of your home. You can see our full waterproofing cost estimate here.
One thing we know from over 50 years of waterproofing basements is that the issues don't fix themselves, and most of the time they get worse.
The best way to be sure that the issues you are facing will not get worse is to hire a professional team to give you an inspection.
Sometimes there are obvious fixes, and other times the fixes are quite unordinary. Be sure to hire a team that has lots of experience with your specific issues. Here are questions to ask waterproofing contractors.
If your basement drain is clogged, find out why it's clogging, how to fix it, and what you can do to stop it from clogging again in the future.
Most basements have drainage systems that take unwanted water from the home's foundation, and channel it away from the house. The two most common systems we install are the drain tile system (otherwise known as the French Drain) and the DRY-UP Baseboard waterproofing system.
A common cause of a clogged basement drainage system is improper slope. Oftentimes we see channel systems installed at an incline rather than a decline, or it goes up and down rather than only downwards. Gravity will pull the water to the lowest point, and this can cause clogs.
The most common case of a basement floor drain clog is because debris is blocking the drainage pipe. This could be trash that shouldn't have been thrown down the drain or an assortment of other disposed items, like hair or dirt.
Sometimes unreliable waterproofing companies will install cheap and non-durable drainage systems. These will inevitably cause issues to arise in the future when large amounts of water need to channel out. Also, if your house is a bit older, the system may just need an upgrade.
If you are experiencing any of the below issues, they could be caused by a clogged basement drain.
If your basement floor is curved or slumping in an unnatural way, this could be caused by water being backed up underneath the concrete surface.
If your basement floor is experiencing cracking, this could be caused by a clogged basement drain. In this case, the water is pushing up on the basement floor and causing it to crack.
If your basement leakage occurred after heavy rains recently, this could also mean that your drainage system is backed up and not working properly.
The most common telltale sign of a clogged basement drain is standing water on your floor.
Here are some simple solutions for unclogging a floor drain. Remember, it is always best to consult with a professional before trying any of these solutions.
A common fix to a clogged basement drainage system is to use a snake to pull out unwanted debris. You must be careful using this method, however, as some basement drainage systems could be damaged by some of the snakes. Again, we recommend consulting with a professional before you risk ruining your drain pipes.
Sometimes the ol' baking soda & vinegar trick will work. Simply pour it down the drain, and see if it helps clear up the clog.
A plunger may also do the trick. Simply place the plunger in the entrance of the drainage pipe and have at it.
It's important to recognize whether your clog is coming from inside the house or outside. If, say, a laundry machine or leaking interior plumbing pipes are causing the issues, be sure to shut off the water before trying to fix the problems.
If you have standing water in your basement, the first step is cleaning it up.
Mold is not good. Be sure to dry your home properly if you've recently experienced water leakage.
As mentioned before, you need to be sure to diagnose your floor drain problem before trying to fix it. There are dozens of reasons why your basement is flooding, and by not understanding the problem before trying to fix them, you are risking "fixing" the wrong problems and causing more severe damage in the future.
Another point to consider is whether your basement drain clogs frequently or this was a one-time event. If this happens frequently, we know there is an underlying cause that can be fixed. We also can be sure that if it has happened several times previously, it will probably happen again in the future. This makes solving the issue a high priority, as waiting to fix your clogged drains will cost you thousands in fixes.
Before pouring Drano down your basement drain, it is important to recognize what type of drain this is and what its purpose is. If this is a sewage drain, then it is probably safe to pour Drano down. If this is another type of drainage system, be sure to check with your local contractor professional to be safe that is will not cause unwanted damage.
The price of unclogging a basement drainage system depends on the culprit of the clog. If it is a simple fix, you may end up only paying in the hundreds. If your basement drainage systems need to be upgraded, it could cost anywhere from $2,000 - $20,000 to resolve the issues.
As briefly mentioned before, old houses were not always built with high quality drainage systems. They used what were available at the time, but these older houses oftentimes need new basement drainage. As always, consult with a professional before making a decision on fixing your basement drains.
Are you stuck with water in your basement and wondering what your next steps should be? This article will give you step-by-step instructions on how to dry your basement and keep it dry for the future.
First, be sure to check if any electrical devices are still plugged into your basement walls. These can be dangerous when there is standing water in the basement, so be sure to stay away from those until the basement is dry.
Your first step is to get the water out of your basement.
You can use a sump pump to drain the water out of the basement. Keep in mind that if you do use a sump pump, the water may just end up back in your home unless you drain it to a place that won't funnel down back into your home.
Another option is to use a shop-vac to suction the water up. Make sure to dump far away from the foundation so it doesn't end up back in the house minutes or hours later.
Once you have gotten any standing water out of your basement, you'll want to dry it out as much as possible.
A dehumidifier is an excellent option for drying out your basement. Simply plug it in (to a safe outlet) and let it do its thing by drying out moisture from the air.
A dehumidifier can also help prevent mold, as the best way to prevent mold is to make sure no water remains. Along with a dehumidifier, you can purchase mold-reducing products that will stop mold from producing after water damage. Make sure to remove any damaged materials and furniture, as mold can grow on an assortment of surfaces.
If you decide to keep your furniture, make sure it has been completely dried. Again, you don't want mold to grow or for the wood structures to rot out from the water damage.
Water can cause a lot of damage. It's important to check to see how much damage has occurred and what damaged items you'd like to replace. Homeowners insurance oftentimes does not cover water damage that comes from a source outside of the home. It's best, however, to check with your homeowners insurance company to be safe.
Don't forget to check under carpeted areas and behind furniture!
If there was standing water, be sure to clean any items that were touched by the flood water, as it can oftentimes be dirty and even muddy.
Wood will sometimes need to be replaced, even if it doesn't seem wet from the outside. Wood can by dry on the outside and wet on the inside.
After you have dried out your basement, it's vital to diagnose how the water came into your basement in the first place.
Sometimes it comes up through hydrostatic pressure from beneath your home's foundation, and other times it is heavy rains that cause the water table to rise too high surrounding your home. You may even see a pipe burst and cause a wet basement (homeowners insurance does cover this often). Or there are simply too many cracks in your basement floor that are letting water go straight through.
Whatever the case, be sure to figure out how the water came into your basement so you know how to come up with a battle plan for the future.
Once you figure out how water entered your basement, it's important to put measures in place so it doesn't happen again. Basement waterproofing systems come in several shapes and sizes. The best way to figure out which waterproofing system you need (if any at all) is to contact a professional waterproofing team to have it checked out. Oftentimes, basement waterproofing companies will offer free estimates, so it can't hurt to give one or two a call to look over your basement.
Nobody wants to see moisture on their basement stairs. The obvious reason is because your basement stairs are wet, and you need to walk up and down them. The other reason is that there could be deeper issues at hand. The water had to have come in from somewhere, the questions are "where did the water come from" and "will it continue to come in?"
Water can enter basements through many ways - walls, cracks in the floor, windows, cove joints, moisture coming up through the floor, and more. Diagnosing where the water is entering your basement is the first step in stopping these issues. An experienced professional will be able to diagnose these issues a lot quicker than the average homeowner, so we always recommend having a pro check it out just to be safe.
To keep water out of your basement stairs, you'll need to channel the water away from your home's foundation. This can include keeping the grade of your yard sloping away from your home, cleaning out gutters and downspouts so water doesn't overflow onto the ground, and a variety of other waterproofing techniques.
Here are some of the most common ways to keep moisture off your basement stairs.
If your gutters have debris in them, they could overflow and spill onto the ground near your foundation. During the spring season and on rainy days, the soil could become oversaturated, and it won't have anywhere else to go but into your basement.
If your yard is sloped downwards toward your home, the water will take the path of least resistance. So, again, when it rains or during melting season, the water will funnel into your home. If your stairs are near the wall, they could be left wet if untreated.
Caulking is one of the best ways to waterproof the exterior or your basement. It is essentially a thick paint that doesn't let water through. It takes hard work and heavy equipment to apply, but it's worth it if it keeps water off your basement stairs.
Dehumidifiers can also help keep moisture out of your basement and away from your stairs.
Wet basement stairs can lead to slips and falls. This is not good, given that basement floors are hard and not pleasant to land on.
Mold is a silent striker. It can sometimes be hidden, but it's there, and it is not healthy. Breathing in mold can be harmful to you and your family's health. Fix your moldy basement.
A little bit of water may not immediately rot the wood stairs, but after consistent exposure, the wood will decay and be left for dust after many years of moisture.
Does your basement wall leak water? In this article, you will find out why basement walls leak and how it can be stopped so it doesn't seep in the future.
Generally if your basement wall is wet, moldy, stained, or tends to have damp spots, it probably means that your wall is leaking. The most obvious case is water dripping down the sides of your basement walls, but it isn't always this cut and dry (no pun intended).
Basement walls can leak because of water that builds up on the outside of your foundation. The water builds until it has nowhere else to go but into your basement. Cracks are not required for the water to enter your home!
Water can get through your basement wall through many sources.
If your basement windows are not sealed completely, or the moisture has gone through them, they can be a common leakage source in your basement. Generally if water is leaking through windows, you will see streaks directly underneath your windows in your basement's interior.
As mentioned previously, water does not need large areas to seep through. Water can go through concrete as moisture and make your basement very wet, damp, and musty.
The most obvious case of basement wall leakage is when there are cracks in your walls. These cracks leave plenty of room for the water to flow through to get into your basement.
As with any basement leakage issue, it's important to find the true source of the problem before making a prescription to fix it.
The DRY-UP waterproofing system is designed specifically for water that is leaking through your walls. It is a proven waterproofing system that does not require excavation your basement.
If water is coming in through the exterior of your foundation, an outside wall sealer will do the trick. It will keep water from penetrating the outside of your home's foundation. This technique does require the digging up of the soil surrounding your home's foundation, as that is the only way to put the sealer on.
Sometimes the issue is not in the basement itself, but outside the basement. For example, if you gutters are overflowing and causing water to build up near your foundation, clearing out the gutters could help fix that issue. Or if you water grass and flowers near your home, that could be why there is so much water near your foundation. Another common issue is the grading surrounding your foundation.
Keeping water away from your basement is the safest way to keep it out of your basement.
A common question homeowners will ask is whether or not they can waterproof their own basement.
The answer: You may or may not be able to waterproof your own basement, as it depends on why your basement is leaking. This leads to the main issue - there is not just one fix for leaky basements.
The fix could be as simple as cleaning out your clogged up gutters to allow water to flow down through it rather than overflowing right down to the base of your home. Homeowners may be able to handle a task such as that.
The issue could also be water entering through cracks in your foundation, which could potentially require foundation repair work. Most homeowners cannot handle a task such as that.
It entirely depends on the situation, but most homeowners should not handle their own basement waterproofing.
Theses are questions you should ask yourself before attempting to waterproof your own basement:
If you answer no to any of those questions, the best solution is to hire a team of professionals who handle these types of jobs every single day.
Here is a list of pros and cons on waterproofing your own basement:
By waterproofing your own basement, you won’t have to pay to hire a crew to come in and take care of the work. You will need to pay for any material that is needed. Oftentimes waterproofing projects will need tools, machinery, and product in order to carry out the task.
Basement waterproofing may take weeks or even months to carry out on your own. Again, this is dependent on what you are actually doing. It may only take a week to install a DRY-up baseboard system in your basement, but installing a drain tile system could be entirely different.
Drain tile repairs and installation require excavation. Then the debris needs to be carried out. After that the system can be installed. And finally you’ll need fresh cement laid out. Oh, and don’t forget about hooking it up to the sump pump (simplified version of the process).
In the end, waterproofing projects can be a time-stealing matter, which not all homeowners will have the ability to put up with.
Basement waterproofing can be exhausting work. It is not for the weak-hearted. You can be on your feet lifting heavy equipment or rolling wheelbarrows out of the basement for hours (and days) on end.
It is not uncommon for your clothes to be covered in dirt at the end of the day, as you could find yourself digging in the trenches.
The biggest con of waterproofing your own basement is that you may not know exactly what needs to be done. This is a very serious issue!
If you believe the issue is a high water table under your home, but it turns out that there was actually a plumbing issue causing the water leakage, you could find yourself wasting a bunch of time and money carrying out the wrong work.
Now imagine a professional who has been in the industry for over 50 years. With that kind of experience, you can be confident knowing that he’s going to find the correct solution to your basement issues.
Making a mistake while trying to waterproof your basement could cost you thousands in damages and put your home (and family!) at risk. Any waterproofing comes with risks, however, the risks are much lower if you have a team of quality pros on your side.
Basement repair equipment can be expensive. Not to mention exterior work can require big machinery to move dirt and heavy pieces.
Without the correct equipment, most repair and installation jobs would be unsuccessful and not possible.
Before doing the work yourself or hiring a professional team to waterproof your basement, you want to know if it is worth the investment.
Basement waterproofing is well worth the investment. Although waterproofing your basement can come at an expense, the overall return on your investment and the immediate living quality improvements are well worth any costs that are associated with it.
The best part about waterproofing your basement is that the results will last for years to come. It may be tempting to let the water leakage be and to just clean it up every time, but the problem may get worse over time. When you fix the problem at the source, you’ll no longer need to worry about future complications.
If you ever decide to sell your home in the future, a big selling point will be that your home has no basement water issues. Nothing deters potential homebuyers away more than when you share that the basement had had water issues for years, and you’ve done nothing to take care of these issues.
Perhaps the most important benefit of fixing your basement water issues is the fact that you’ll be able to live down there. It no longer has to be just a storage area or the place that no one wants to be in. You won’t have to worry about mold anymore, and leakage during heavy rains and storms won’t be a factor.
Musky basements are human repellants. Living in unbreathable basements is also a hassle. Getting rid of water issues in your basement has the benefit of people being able to breathe clearly and not having to constantly worry about the health of your family and guests.
When water enters your basement, it can damage your house. Repairs to these damages may end up costing more in the long run than it would have been to simply fix the issues to begin with.
Having dry floors means that you don’t have to worry about keeping items on it and getting wet. You may even be able to put a carpet down.
With basement leakage issues, you not only have to worry about your foundation, basement walls, and floor wearing down, but you also need to consider your furniture and any appliances you keep in the basement. Water can cause damage to all of these items if not treated properly.
Here are the most crucial questions you should ask a waterproofing company before hiring them.
Asking these questions can help you avoid heartache and confusion in the future.
Most basement waterproofing companies will provide free estimates, but it's always a good idea to ask just in case. Oftentimes they will advertise this on their website. In some cases, a small amount of work will need to be completed in order to find the root of an issue and to give an accurate estimate. In this case, you may end up having to spend a little bit to receive the completed estimate.
We recommend finding companies that do provide free estimates, as you can ask a couple different companies until you find one that you like and are comfortable hiring.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but even so, it's important to remember to ask how much the waterproofing services cost.
One thing to keep in mind is that the cheapest solution is not always the best solution. You may fix the problem in the short-term, but if the cheap solution was not meant to hold off the problem in the future, you could find yourself paying even more to fix it a second time.
You want to make sure that the contractor is not overcomplicating the issue at hand. Your water leakage issue might simply be happening because there are no gutters installed on your home. Installing the gutters and throwing a few dehumidifiers in the basement may fix the water leakage issue when it rains without the need to install a large drain tile system along with sump pumps.
This isn't always the case, but it is always a great question to ask rather than paying for work that isn't absolutely necessary.
Excavation refers to digging up construction in order to get to or install a product in your basement or foundation. Generally when excavation is required the cost will go up as bigger and stronger equipment is needed. Be sure to ask how much needs to be dug up and where that will be taking place (interior or exterior).
Many waterproofing companies offer warranty on the products they provide, and some provide it on labor as well. It is a good idea to ask your contractor how long the warranty lasts and what the limit is on the warranty. There can be a claim limit amount written into the fine print.
Warranties are great in case something goes wrong with one of the products installed in your basement. If something breaks or stops working, a warranty may be able to cover any additional costs to replace the broken or non-functional equipment.
Each and every basement is different. Having workers that have experienced many different types of homes and basements can come in handy when you run into unusual issues. For example, if a worker runs into pipes while digging into the concrete and has not experienced this before, it may cause unneeded complications.
An experienced crew, however, will know exactly what to do when the unusual arises.
Believe it or not, not all basement repair products and solutions are equal. For example, there are many different types of egress window solutions out there, and the dry-up baseboard is a nifty solution to small leakage problems that many waterproofing companies overlook.
Again, this is another case where it is crucial to find products that will not only be a quick fix to your wet basement but that will be there in 5, 10, 20 and more years down the road.
Asking for images of previous completed jobs can be a great way to prove the legitimacy of a business and can also give you an idea of the type of work that they provide. It may also provide insight as to how much they clean up after the project has been completed. It is smart to find a waterproofing contractor that will clean up afterwards.
Companies that have been around for over 30 years will have hundreds, if not thousands, of past customers that are now enjoying their dry basements all year around. Ask those customers how their experience was working with the basement waterproofing contractor, and find out if they would hire the same company again a second time around.
You will want to avoid hiring contractors that are not insured. This is a necessity because you will run into major issues if the project does not go as planned. Lawsuits will happen, and it will not end up pretty, so make sure the company has proper liability insurance. Be sure to ask about what type of insurance the company has and what exact situations it would and wouldn't cover.
Different states have different laws about licenses. Be sure to check that the company has a proper license to be doing the work they are performing. Most are required to have licenses once they reach a certain project amount threshold.
This question may be last on the list, but it could be the most important question you ask. If you are going to fix a basement problem, why not fix it right the first time?
We always like to tell our customers that our solutions are "realistic". We use proven and tested products and solutions, and we have the experience to fix just about any basement water issue. Whichever company you decide to hire, make sure they are going to stand by their product and word.
Looking for a basement waterproofing contractor?
This is the ultimate list of some of the best waterproofing companies in all of Minnesota.
We looked at the services offered by each company, Google reviews left by their customers, and the overall authority of each business on the internet.
This list is not in any particular order and is designed to help give you the easiest selection.
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Services: Drain tile, sump pump, dry-up baseboard, egress windows, foundation repair, buckling wall repair
Highlight: Family-owned, free estimates
Founded: 1967
Location: Rochester, MN
Services: French drains, sump pump, egress windows, insulation
Highlight: Member of International Basement Systems network
Founded: 1975
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Services: Concrete repair, waterproofing
Highlight: American Concrete Institute
Founded: 1949
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Services: Basement waterproofing, crawl space, egress windows, discharge systems
Highlight: Over 1.6 million feet of drain tile installed
Founded: 1977
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Services: Waterproofing & drainage, landscaping
Highlight: Only crew on this list that specializes in landscaping
Founded: 1983
Location: Lino Lakes, MN
Services: Polydrain, wall crack injections, gutter management, radon mitigation
Highlight: Transferrable warranty
Founded: 1965
Location: St. Paul, MN
Services: Crawl spaces, retaining walls, Stairwells
Highlight: Drain tile, sump pump, epoxy, sump pump
Founded: (Over 30 years ago)
Location: Bloomington, MN
Services: Egress windows, other waterproofing
Highlight: Egress experts
Founded: Unknown (contractor has 18+ years of experience)
Location: Medina, MN
Services: Egress windows, basement waterproofing, radon mitigation
Highlight: Lead-safe, free estimates
Founded: 2009
Location: Duluth, MN
Services: Foundation repair, crawl space repair, concrete lifting and leveling
Highlight: Free estimates
Founded: 2012
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Services: Drain tile, sump pump, radon mitigation
Highlight: 45+ five star reviews on Google
Founded: Unknown
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Services: Foundation repair, waterproofing systems
Highlight: Large service area
Founded: (Over 30 years ago)
Location: Rochester, MN
Services: Basement waterproofing, mold removal, exterior waterproofing
Highlight: 10+ five star customer reviews
Founded: 1975
Location: Duluth, MN
Services: Waterproofing, foundation repair, sump pump
Highlight: Financing available
Founded: 1991
