What to do if you notice condensation on your basement walls

Ventilation is a key concern for basement areas and crawl spaces.

Under certain conditions, though, the very ventilation system intended to control moisture and humidity levels can cause a buildup of condensation on your basement walls.

Crawl space vents allow for air circulation between the crawl space air and the outdoors. During warm weather, however, this allows the warm, humid air from outside to travel indoors, where it condenses on your basement’s cold walls and floors.

Condensation is often described as “wall sweating,” and can quickly develop into more serious, wood rot and structural damage if not treated quickly and at its source. It’s important to act immediately after you notice any basement moisture problem.

At Helitech Waterproofing & Foundation Repair, we offer free consultations, which serves two purposes. First, it gives you a chance to ask our experienced team any questions you have. Second, it allows us an opportunity to evaluate your crawl space or damp basement, so that we can accurately diagnose the source of your basement moisture problem.

How to remove condensation in basements

Condensation in basements is a relatively easy problem to fix, especially when compared to drainage problems, leaks and foundation settlement.

Make sure to have a waterproofing expert determine the source of your basement moisture to make sure you aren’t confusing condensation on basement walls for a bigger problem. If, for example, you confuse foundation settlement for condensation, you could be missing a sign that your home has suffered significant structural damage. For more warning signs of water damage, click here.

Once you ascertain that your basement moisture problem is, in fact, due to condensation, the Helitech waterproofing experts will devise a plan to eradicate the excess moisture. But everyhome is different, so there aren’t any one-size-fits-all solutions.

Some homes, for instance, have encapsulated crawl spaces, while other homes have completely open crawl spaces. Yet other homes have finished basements. Ineachof these cases, the process to dry the damp basement will be different.

The general idea, though, isto increase air circulation and keep moisture and humidity at bay. Insome instances, it makes sense to use a dehumidifier, while in other instances just an exhaust fan will do.

No matter what your home’s situation is, our team will develop a moisture control system that will prevent further water damage to your foundation system. Give us a call today for a free consultation.