Hello
We have an older home (1924) with an old concrete and stone type foundation.
Full basement
Home is only 1200 ft/sq

The basement has always been humid and damp particularly when there have been prolonged heavy periods of rain and the ground becomes saturated. At this point moisture seeps and drips through certain parts of the old foundation wall, and random spots of moisture appear in the middle of the concrete floor.
I do keep the windows open for ventilation, and run a fan only when we are home.

I have lived here for 40 years and while I am used to this behavior this summer in the Northeast has been unbearably humid and damp.
For the first time ever I have noted mold and mildew all over the beams and floor joists!!

My first question is what is the best humidifier I can buy ASAP and will one be enough for a 1200 ft/sq basement

My next question is what is the best way to get rid of this mold?

And finally do you all think sealing the outside of the foundation and putting in footing drains will be the best solution for the moisture problem (should I be asking this question in another spot on the forum?)

Any help will be much appreciated
Thanks

 

I moved your thread as this is really a basement question.

Just addressing the dehumidifier part of the question. I like the Friedrich line if your are looking for slightly better quality. Otherwise any 60-80 pint dehumidifier will work for you. There are pro units you can buy that start at $1000 but I don't think one of those is cost effective.

 

At least 90% of this issue needs to be addressed outside, not inside.
At a bare minimum you need working gutters with downspouts leading away from the foundation.
No mulch piled up against the foundation, and no flow beds forming ponds.
Grade around the house needs to be running away from the foundation.
As far as the mold on the wood it needs to be treated.
https://store.doyourownpestcontrol.c...with-mold-care

 

Hi 409,
There are two forms of moisture, liquid water and moisture vapor and you are dealing with both. A significantly dry basement is probably out of the question since it was never intended to be dry, they just didn't build them that way in 1924. But as Joe said, do everything you can from the outside. Add a deep sump pit or two to try and catch the ground water before it soaks up through the floor.

Your location in your profile would help as some areas you ventilate while others you close off and condition.

As a note, normal airflow through a house in winter will bring much of that basement air up into your home for all to breathe, adds emphasis on the importance of a good cleaning and moisture management.

Bud

 

thanks for all of the advice
for starters i will get a dehumidifier going
do you think the dehumidifier will help significantly?

all downspouts lead away from the house already.
unfortunately the house is on the lower end of sloping street which doesn't help the issue.
the earth is mostly flat around the house. my intention is to add non porous surfaces around the perimeter (driveway,patio,sidewalk) and slope them accordingly to divert the water away.
do you think that will suffice or should i be looking into digging around the foundation, sealing it and adding footing drains?

finally and most important to me at the moment, what is the best way for me to remove/ treat the mold that has accumulated? is this a DIY thing or something i need to call a company for?

thanks

 

hello

i have a damp basement and had asked advice in the " basement improvement forum"
one component of the issue is that mold and mildew has formed on all the wood surfaces (beams, floor joists etc)
how can i remove and treat this? is this a DIY project or something i should have done professionally?

thanks

 

I combined your threads because typically when mold removal is discussed..... it brings up questions on how you are reducing water and moisture which were already discussed here. I added mold to your title. The guys will stop back.