How To Handle Basement & Crawl Space Humidity

Does the air in your home ever feel heavy? This is a sure sign of high humidity, which likely originates from your basement or crawl space.

Especially during Central and Southern Ohio’s wet and muggy summer months, hot and humid air can easily leak into your basement or crawl space. This unstable air leads to a host of issues such as excess moisture and humidity, condensation, unpleasant odors, and more.

Learn more about what’s going on in your home and how to control basement or crawl space humidity with the help of the local pros at Ohio Basement Authority.

Where Does Warm Air & Moisture Come From?

You might be wondering how the hot air and humidity got into your basement or crawl space in the first place. The most common source is open basement windows or crawl space vents.

Most basements have some type of window, and many crawl spaces were built with vents. The latter was intended to increase airflow underneath the home while minimizing moisture and mold issues. However, this has been found to be faulty and lead to those exact problems.

Along with obvious openings like windows or vents, air, and water can find their way inside through other means, such as:

• Basement wall and floor cracks
• Uncovered crawl space floors
• Faulty appliances (broken sump pumps or leaking water heaters)
• Burst pipes

Problems to Look For

Aside from obvious leaking water, you can keep an eye out for other signs of trouble from your basement or crawl space, such as:

• Musty odors
• Mold growth
• Increased pest presence
• Bouncy, uneven floors
• Condensation on walls and windows
• Wet walls and floors
• Cracking floors and walls

Not only are these problems indications of water and humidity, but they’re also damaging effects of those culprits. Any moisture in your crawl space or basement has the potential to lead to serious health and safety issues.

How To Tame Humidity & Water

Basement and crawl space issues can be complex, and they need specific solutions to nip the problems in the bud for good. DIY repairs and quick fixes are just that – temporary solutions that don’t tackle the root of the problem.

For a safer and healthier home, it’s best to have a basement and crawl space specialist on your side. Here’s a look at how our team at Ohio Basement Authority tackles wet and humid basements and crawl spaces.

Seal Openings (Windows & Vents)

The most important thing you can do for the health and safety of your basement or crawl space is to keep windows and vents closed.

True, your basement can get stuffy and need to be aired out from time to time. We recommend setting up fans to move the air or opening windows during cooler mornings and evenings if you feel the need to do so.

Vents along your crawl space need to remain closed year-round. Our team will seal crawl space vents from the inside by blocking them off using our thermal insulation panels that are cut to fit. Exterior vent covers also can be added upon your request.

Water Management Systems

When condensation forms on the walls of your basement or crawl space, the water can leak down the walls and pool near the wall and floor seam. To combat this common problem, as well as leaking water in general, a perimeter drain is installed to drain water away from the wall and to a sump pump. The sump pump in the basement or crawl space then pumps the water out of the space and away from your home, helping to avoid humid conditions.

The answer for basements is our BasementGutter™ interior drainage system. Most drains sit in the soil and are prone to clogging. Our specially designed system sits above the footing and out of the soil so that it will never clog.

We have a similar product made specifically for crawl spaces. Our CrawlDrain™ system does actually sit in the dirt crawl space, but it is covered with a unique fabric to avoid clogging.

Crawl Space Insulation

Insulation is essential for temperature and moisture control. Soft fiberglass insulation is the most commonly used material in homes across the country, but it does not belong in a crawl space. It is prone to saturation mold and pest infestations, which adds to the vicious cycle of damage.

A better alternative is rigid foam insulation panels. Our ExTremeBloc™ panels – which we use to seal vent openings – are placed on interior crawl space walls. They are mold and pest-resistant, have an R-10 thermal rating, and are compatible with our other crawl space repair and encapsulation solutions.

Vapor Barriers

Another useful tool for preventing moisture intrusion is a vapor barrier.

In your basement, we can place this special liner on your walls. If any water leaks through the walls, it will automatically run behind the waterproof 12-mil WallSeal™ liner and down to the perimeter drainage system.

We also use a similar liner to completely seal and encapsulate crawl spaces. Our 20-mil CrawlSeal™ liner is used to cover the crawl space floor, walls, and support blocks to completely seal the crawl space and isolate it from the earth.

Dehumidification

Moisture and high humidity – usually above 50% – create the perfect environment for mold and wood rot to thrive and really damage your home. During the summer, this problem is extremely prevalent because the outside air is so humid.

Our powerful, energy-efficient basement and crawl space dehumidifiers work hard to keep your home free of excess humidity and moisture. These units are set to the ideal humidity level, which is below 50%. They also clean and filter the air, eliminate odors, prevent mold growth, and protect your family’s health.

Contact OBA, Your Local Home Humidity Control Experts 

It’s no secret that Central and Southern Ohio locales are notoriously hot and humid in the summer. It’s easy for your basement or crawl space to suffer from these conditions, but we can put a stop to that. At Ohio Basement Authority, our team of qualified, reliable experts has solutions you can trust to fix your humid basement or crawl space.

Each home is different, which is why we take the time to meet with you, determine the source of the problem, and come up with a lasting solution to your unique issues. Contact us today to book your free inspection and to learn more about how we can help you combat basement or crawl space humidity for good.

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for over 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.