Attention Property Managers. ask about our new client portal

4 Ways To Keep Your Basement Dry in Winter

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

When the colder temperatures come to town, it is natural for many of us to spend more time indoors, staying cozy while the weather rages outside. We rely on our homes to keep us safe no matter what is going on outside, but that is not always the case.

Certain home maintenance tasks need to be tackled during the fall season to help keep your home safe, dry and secure as the seasons change. You need to prepping your home for the weather to avoid some serious damage and mold problems in your basement.

Let’s explore more about what happens when your basement gets wet and what to do about it below.

The Dangers of Wet Basements

Your basement is designed to help support your home, provide you with extra storage, and be a buffer between your living spaces and the ground. In most circumstances, it will withstand the harsh elements of bitter cold, heavy rain and intense snowstorms without suffering as a result.

However, having moisture in your basement can be really problematic. The living spaces in your home are designed around your HVAC and ventilation system to help circulate and move air efficiently. As unconditioned air moves through this system, humidity, moisture and excess heat or cold are pulled from it to create a comfortable temperature throughout your home.

In most cases, basements aren’t given the same considerations when it comes to ventilation. They tend to be more sensitive to the elements and can quickly become musty or humid when the weather changes. While some of these situations can be resolved with fans and dehumidifiers, any sort of moisture will linger and cause troubles.

A single crack in your foundation can invite water inside during a rainstorm, or a faulty sump pump may lead to flooding issues during the spring season. Once water gets into your home and settles into your basement, mold and mildew become more common.

Mold and Your Basement

Mold thrives in dark, damp environments, which makes your basement the perfect target for a colony to start growing. It only takes a few floating spores to settle into a damp area of your basement to grow into an infestation.

Basements are often the perfect location for mold because they aren’t checked as often as the rest of your home. You would most likely notice a mold problem in your kitchen or family room, but you might overlook a corner of your basement on a daily basis. Mold can grow in as little as 24 hours, so you could be dealing with a massive infestation before you even realize there’s a problem.

Over time, mold will impact your home’s indoor air quality and it can even start to break down materials like carpet, wood beams and furniture. This is why it is crucial to do what you can to prevent water from getting into your basement during the wetter months of the year.

1. Clean Your Gutters

One of the biggest reasons for wet basements is foundation issues, and many of those issues can stem back to problems with your gutters. Gutters have the important job of moving water down and away from your home, which prevents rain and other precipitation from simply pouring over the edge of your roof.

If your gutters are clogged, that water will drip over the edges and will pool around your foundation. As it leaks into the ground, it can easily infiltrate tiny cracks in your foundation. It can even overwhelm your sump pump if the rain is strong and steady enough.

The best way to prevent this is to get up on your roof regularly to clean out yard debris. Leaves and twigs can easily clog up your gutters as the seasons change, but a simple cleaning can help ensure the water can flow the way it needs to.

2. Invest in Longer Downspouts

This suggestion is tied to your gutters, but is still important! Downspouts are a great investment if your yard slopes in an odd direction or if you have a drainage ditch that is farther away from your home than you would like. Downspouts connect to the ends of your gutters and act as an extension to help move water even further away from your house.

If you already have downspouts, be sure that they are connected securely to your gutters before it rains or snows. Even forgetting to put them back once after mowing your yard will allow the water to pool right next to your foundation as it pours out.

3. Grade Your Yard

If you have the time to invest in a larger project, having your yard professionally graded is a great way to keep your basement dry. If your yard slopes backwards towards your house instead of down and away from your property, any precipitation that falls will ultimately flow backwards as well.

Grading your yard involves moving earth around to help create a more pronounced slope that works with gravity instead of against it.

4. Repair Basement Walls and Foundation

Sometimes the best offense is a good defense! You can’t always predict what the weather will do, but you can do your best to keep your basement sealed up tight. Inspect your foundation and basement walls each season and repair cracks or structural inefficiencies right away.

This might be as simple as filling in holes or hairline fractures or might require more intensive repairs such as anchors or steel beams.

What To Do About Water or Mold in Basements

Despite your best efforts, water damage does happen and you could wind up with a serious water problem or mold infestation. If you discover damage or a dangerous mold colony growing in your basement space, hire a professional restoration company right away.

A trained water damage restoration team will be able to remove the water, address repairs and tackle your mold problem safely and effectively. They will also help you strategize about what to do to prevent another problem from occurring in the future.

Dealing with a wet basement or a stubborn mold problem? Call the team at Exit Mold today at (516) 512-7877 for a quick restoration.