How to Deal With Basement Moisture in Your Charleston Home

Moisture is common in any new home, but too much moisture can lead to mold and a host of other problems. Here’s how to prevent that.

Today our Warranty Manager Shaun Sterba is here to talk about your new home and the moisture levels in your basement.

Depending on when your home was built, there are certain times of the year that your home will have a slightly higher moisture content. Generally, the first year living in any new home will see elevated moisture levels whether your basement is finished or unfinished. This has a lot to do with all the building products that go into the home which elevate the moisture content.

During the rainy season or high-humidity days of summer, there will be higher levels of moisture in your basement.

The air conditioner will take some of it away, but you also might have to supplement it using a dehumidifier to remove that warm, moist air that will collect and give off a damp feel or musty odor.

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It’s really important to control the moisture in your basement.

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In my own house, I use a hydrometer to check my moisture levels in the basement. Basically, you need something that is going to give you a moisture content reading. It allows me to check the moisture levels outside and in my basement at the same time. Any time your moisture is about 50% or 55%, you'll probably want to run a dehumidifier. There are a variety of devices that can do this for you and can be relatively inexpensive. 
 
It’s really important to control your moisture, especially if you’re storing things down there. Rubber totes will protect your items much better than cardboard, which is more susceptible to mold.

If you have any further questions for Shaun or anyone else on our team, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.