Basement dehumidifiers and moisture control
Some basements never flood but always feel clammy. Controlling the humidity protects stored belongings, framing and indoor air.
Below-grade walls stay cool, and in a humid Pennsylvania summer the air that drifts into the basement drops its moisture on those walls, cold water pipes and anything stored against them. Add moisture wicking through concrete and stone, and a basement can smell musty even if water never puddles on the floor.
How dry should a basement be?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent. An inexpensive humidity meter will tell you where your basement stands. If it's regularly above 60 percent in summer, mold has a much easier time growing on cardboard, wood and drywall.
What does a waterproofing company add?
- Proper sizing. A small portable unit may run constantly and still not keep up in a large or very damp basement. Whole-basement units are built to run in cool spaces and move more air.
- Drainage. Units can be plumbed to a floor drain, the sump pit or a condensate pump so nobody has to empty a bucket.
- Finding the source. If moisture is coming through the walls or floor, the company should say so rather than just selling a machine. Sealing a pit lid, adding a wall membrane or fixing outside drainage can make the dehumidifier's job much smaller.
Things you can do now
- Keep gutters clean and run downspouts well away from the foundation
- Make sure soil slopes away from the house
- Keep the dryer vented outdoors and the vent connection tight
- Store belongings in plastic bins, off the floor and away from exterior walls
- Dry anything that gets wet within 24 to 48 hours, which the EPA says usually keeps mold from growing
What affects the price?
- Basement size and how damp it stays
- Unit type and capacity
- How the unit drains and whether a condensate pump is needed
- Any wall, floor or sump sealing done alongside it
Every price comes from the waterproofing company itself, after someone has walked the basement, checked the walls and floor edge, and looked at the gutters and grading outside. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone sees the house is a guess at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will a dehumidifier fix a leaking basement?
No. It removes moisture from the air, not water coming through a crack or floor joint. Fix the leak first, then control the humidity.
Where should a basement dehumidifier drain?
To a floor drain, the sump pit or a condensate pump that carries water out. Ask the installer how it will drain before it goes in.
Related services
More background: Blair County basement water guide.
Puddles by the wall, a damp smell, or a pump that won't stop?
Call and a Blair County waterproofing company will come take a look.