12 Tips to prevent basement condensation

Basements can get pretty damp, but with these 12 tips about waterproofing and venting, you'll get your basement dry in no time! 

• Increase the ventilation in the basement by closing windows in hot, humid weather and opening them in cool, dry weather. Use a fan to keep the air moving.

• To dry the air, use a dehumidifier. Even a small roll-around model will remove litres (quarts) of water.
• Attach a plastic tube so that the water it collects goes directly into the basement drain.

• Insulate with self-sticking, foam insulating tape or pre-slit foam sleeves. Fix any leaky plumbing connections.

• Vent to the outside. Make sure bathroom and laundry room moisture is vented to the outside; install an exhaust fan if there isn't one.

• Repair gutters and downspouts and make sure roof runoff is not accumulating next to the foundation.
• Use splash blocks and downspout extensions to carry water away from the house.

• Waterproof with a crystalline waterproofing material (CWM).

• Thin out foliage and organic mulch that keep the ground next to the house from drying out after a rainfall.

• If you have a sump pump, inspect and make sure it is functioning.

Caulk any leaky joints between walls and doors or windows and around floor drains — and make sure the drains are not blocked

• Don't leave snow lying against walls or let it accumulate there or in basement window wells.
• If you get a lot of snow, install window-wellcovers — clear plastic bubbles that let in light but not rain or snow.

Check for cracks and holes in basement walls and repair them before they get worse.

• The white powder that sometimes accumulates on the concrete walls or floor of a basement is efflorescence, soluble salts that remain when water seeps through concrete and evaporates.
• Clean it off with a rigid, nylon-bristled brush or a wet rag or mop.
• If it returns, you may need to waterproof your basement walls.