Basements have a knack for getting damp over time but mostly in summer. Summer humidity levels tend to stay closer to the 50% range, while winter humidity usually dips lower. This is because the basement is the most humid place in your house. Humidity is also a liability. Your optimal basement humidity level during summer will depend on many factors, such as where you live, the age of the building, type of basement insulation, etc. It may be a little difficult to reach 50%, but with the right device, you will surely get at this number. Heating he basement in the summer would also heat the air on the upper levels (since warm air rises). Boston Fern By Mokkie – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link. In the summer, you can reduce your home’s humidity levels by using a dehumidifier. This is because the Relative Humidity (RH) of air goes up 2.2% for every one-degree you cool it. When this humidity gets into the basement, some of the moisture in the air condenses out onto cool surfaces. There are several reasons. The warmer the air the more moisture the air will hold. A finished basement is a desirable addition to any home because it adds space for both storage and living, but when a basement is damp, it can become a major problem. Ideal Indoor Humidity: Summer and Year-Round. With the salts I can get it down to 70-65% within a week or so. SCHEDULE A FREE INSPECTION . However, if you also want to dry your clothes in the basement, this will make the moisture problem worse again. We live in the Toronto area which is always a very hot and humid area, but we rarely use the AC in our house. Homeowners dread moisture in their basement. Since the outside air gets in many ways, you will see more humid air in the summer months. In this table, the Daily number is the average of humidity readings taken every three hours throughout the day.Morning percentages are for 6 … Trouble is, they can also be very powerful mold breeding grounds, especially during hot, humid summer weather. First and the most obvious is that you are in a very humid climate. These numbers reflect humidity percentages the morning between 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. when humidity is at its highest. The basement in my house seems to be always damp and kind of smells moldy in the spring/summer/fall. Follow these 4 steps to cure the problem and the odor. Summer humidity trapped in basements – How this happens and what to do. If you’re not using an ENERGY STAR ® certified dehumidifier, it’s a great idea to invest ahead of time for next summer’s promisingly humid season. The key is, you say dry in winter and humid in summer. I am using a dehumidifier to lower the humidity. In summer, the temperature is going to be high and hence the moisture content will be high. So generally summer months are humid. The basement humidity level in summer can be high so opening the basement windows is not ideal. To my surprise, though, I found out that Seattle is actually one of the most humid cities in the US. Why is my basement humid olshan when high humidity in your basement is basement has water problems musty smells in the house finding the 10 best basement flooring options. Basement moisture problems can pose significant health, structural, and financial troubles. The dehumidification process converts latent heat in water to sensible … But when hot, humid air from outside makes its way to the basement, it tends to condense on the colder surfaces that it comes in contact with. It’s humid, sticky, and impossible to feel comfortable throughout the day and night. In conclusion, the best place to keep a dehumidifier most definitely is the downstairs basement or upstairs close to the stairs. You may have to use a dehumidifier regularly if you live in a humid zone. Optimal humidity lies somewhere between 40% and 50%. If there is any other moist condition upstairs, its source must be resolved rather than placing a dehumidifier. Having any form of water in your basement can cause many problems, including black mold and cracks in the walls.. Also in summer where people have basements, it gets humid as well as warm. In fact, according to one online publication, Seattle is ranked as the 38th most humid city in the United States. In humid conditions, materials subject to rot, like wood and the paper in gypsum wallboard, can become covered in mould. This process is called the stack effect. Basement condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes in contact with your cool basement walls and floor. Step 2: Control Humidity. Even with the best of structural and mechanical design, though, a basement in the humid days of summer may still soar above 50 percent in measured relative humidity. Seasonal Issues: The volume of vapor in the warmer air is much more than colder air. Basement Insulation Mold-Busting Strategy#4: Never Install Carpet Directly on Concrete. The ideal moisture level for a basement, whether finished or unfinished, is 30 to 50 percent relative humidity.During summertime, outside moisture pours in through basement walls and windows, bumping this figure up to 65 to 70 percent in much of the United States and Canada. When the hot air is coming out of the registers, it’ll come down and then float back up to the upper half of the room, because heat rises. To clarify - basement is humid. Opting for a dehumidifier in the summer months will help you relax at home in the daytime and get good sleep during the night. Average Humidity. Some are worse than others, but things are especially bad after the long, wet, humid summer we’ve had this year. The moisture expands the wood, making your doors too tight in their frames. Most humid states in summer are in the American Southeast and the American Northeast. Heating the basement in the summer to lower humidity would be very ineffective and costly. Here’s why: During the humid summer season, outside air enters through leaks in the top of the house (attic) and pushes cooler, air conditioned air out through the cracks in the basement or bottom story of your home. Why Is My Basement So Humid Northwest Rain Gutter. A musty smell in the basement that comes from mold and mildew presents potential harm to your home. 3. Nobody likes to walk on a hard concrete basement floor, and that’s why installing carpet and underlay are such popular basement strategies. Not only does a damp basement create a musty smell throughout a home, but it can also create problems with mold. 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