If you ask most homeowners “what is the most humid spot in the house?“, most of them will reply it’s the basement humidity.
While “the most humid spot in the house” will vary from household to household, basements are typically prone to high levels of moisture and humidity.
So why are basements likely to have high humidity levels? Mostly because they are:
- Underground
- Surrounded by concrete
- Have very few windows
These factors combine to create the ultimate moisture storage area in your house– the basement.
It doesn’t help that a lot of people keep their larger appliances in their basements, either.
But with the help of dehumidifiers and other devices, you can make your basement a much more comfortable, moisture-free place to be!
How To Detect High a Humidity Level in Your Basement
It’s not always easy to tell if you need a dehumidifier in your basement. Even exceptionally new well-built basements can still have trouble with air quality and moisture. There are a few key signs of high moisture levels:
- Damp Walls: The walls don’t just feel cold, but feel damp when you touch them, even if your hands aren’t wet afterward.
- Condensation: There’s condensation on glass and plastic cups in the room (at room temperature)
- Musty Odor: If the basement has a general musty or musky scent, especially any cloth or clothing that’s been in the basement for over a week.
- Damaged Paper Goods: Papers stored in the basement show large divots misshaping the paper.
The best way to detect results earlier is by using a hygrometer, a device that measures the ambient humidity in the air around it. At any given time, you want around 30% humidity in your basement.
5 Tips to Reduce the Humidity Level in Your Basement
Here are some simple tips for reducing the humidity in your home’s basement:
1. Open the Windows
A great way to get air circulating in the room is to open up the windows whenever you’re down there. You can leave them open while doing chores to create a more pleasant environment.
2. Keep It Clean!
Storing too many items in your basement will create clutter. Keeping your basement clean will help light and heat reach all areas and prevent moisture damage.
3. Seal Up Any Gaps
Leaks or holes can allow humid air from outside to travel into your basement, increasing the humidity level. Tightly sealing these holes will prevent this process from happening.
4. Turn Up the Heat
Moisture is more likely to collect if your basement is kept at lower temperatures. Raising the thermostat and making it warmer will help prevent moisture build-up.
5. Get a Dehumidifier
These amazingly helpful devices absorb the water vapor in your basement, preventing the moisture from causing damage and keeping your belongings safe. There are no bags of water to empty out with Eva Dry dehumidifiers! Our products are eco-friendly and safe for the whole family. See our lineup of garage & basement dehumidifiers here.
You should follow the best practices for using a dehumidifier to lower the basement humidity level more efficiently.
Which Dehumidifier is Best?
All humidifiers and dehumidifiers work based on the cubic feet (length x width x height) of the room they’re placed in.
Most rooms are about 9 ft tall, while most basement ceilings start at 7 ft tall.
1. Know the Cubic Feet of Your Space
To understand which dehumidifier to buy, you need to know the volume of the space you’re trying to keep dry, aka the cubic ft (L X W X H).
That’s why all of Eva-Dry’s dehumidifiers show what size they’re built for by having the numbers right in their name.
Here’s an example.
If you have a basement that is 12 ft wide by 12 ft long and 7 ft high, your basement is just over 1,000 cubic ft (12ft X 12ft X 7ft = 1,008 cubic ft). Our choice dehumidifier for you would be the EDV 1100 Electric Dehumidifier as it’s good for up to 1100 cubic ft.
For larger basements or spaces that are 2000 cubic ft-4000 cubic ft, we recommend using a large basement dehumidifier such as our EDV 4000.
2. Renewable Dehumidifiers Will Last Longer & Save You Energy
For the best basement dehumidifiers for your home, you’ll want to see the selection here at Eva-Dry.
Our dehumidifiers provide the assistance you need in keeping your basement moisture-free. These devices are easily renewed and can be used for up to 10 years!
Learn more about our dehumidifiers today.
