Basement dehumidifiers and moisture control
Some basements never puddle but are always clammy. Getting the humidity down protects what you store, the framing overhead and the air upstairs.
Basement walls and floors stay cool all summer. When warm, humid air reaches them, its moisture condenses on concrete, cold-water pipes and anything stored against the walls. Add moisture wicking through block, stone and the slab, and a basement can smell of mildew without ever showing standing water.
What humidity should I aim for?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping indoor relative humidity below 60 percent, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. A cheap digital hygrometer will tell you where your basement stands. If it sits above 60 percent through the summer, cardboard, wood and drywall become easy targets for mold.
What does a waterproofing company bring?
- Correct sizing. A small portable unit in a large, damp basement may run constantly and still fall behind. Whole-basement units are built to work in cool spaces and move much more air.
- A drain. The unit can empty into a floor drain, the sump pit or a condensate pump, so nobody has to carry buckets.
- The source. A good company will tell you if water is getting in through walls, a crack or an open sump pit. Fixing that first shrinks the dehumidifier's workload.
Steps you can take today
- Clean gutters and extend downspouts well away from the foundation
- Make sure soil and paving slope away from the house
- Confirm the dryer vents outdoors with a tight connection
- Keep stored items in plastic bins, off the floor and away from outside walls
- Dry anything that gets wet within 24 to 48 hours, which the EPA says will usually prevent mold
What drives the cost?
- Basement size and how damp it stays
- Unit type and capacity
- Drain setup, including a condensate pump if needed
- Any sealing of walls, floor or sump pit done at the same time
We don't quote prices. The waterproofing company prices the job after it has looked at the walls, the floor joint, the sump pit and the outside drainage, because the same symptom can need very different fixes. Treat any firm number given over the phone, sight unseen, with caution.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can a dehumidifier fix a leak?
No. It pulls moisture out of the air; it doesn't stop water coming through a crack or the floor joint. Deal with the leak, then manage the humidity.
Should I run the dehumidifier year-round?
Most basements need it most from late spring through early fall. Watch a hygrometer and run it whenever humidity climbs past 60 percent.
Related services
More background: Johnstown basement water guide.
Wet floor after a storm, a crack that weeps, or a sump that never rests?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a waterproofing company that works in the Johnstown area.