Solutions for Moisture in Basement Concrete Floors

Got a wet concrete floor in your basement room? The moisture problem is a common phenomenon on the concrete basement floor. The places may be dark and damp in most houses. Surprisingly, a little amount of moisture can be problematic when not handled with care. A two-way strategy of identifying the causes and their mitigation measures may be useful to manage the moisture problem. Dampness on the basement concrete floor can cause cracks and molds. 

Causes of Moisture Problem in Basement Concrete Floor

The warning signs of moisture problems are as apparent as a puddle on the floor. As such, you’ll notice saturated concrete base walls, standing water on the floor, rotting joists, columns, or deteriorating carpets. Also, you’ll get the foul odor of mold or mildew. Therefore, any of the mentioned signs are a clear indication of basement floor moisture problems. Below are some common causes of the problem in detail.

1. Groundwater or Rainwater

Torrential downpour might cause a significant moisture problem in your basement floor if the ground was not well graded. Also, limited gutters can be a potential problem as the water from the roof gets to the base of the building.

2. Ventilation with Humid Outside Air

The problem may arise when you open the basement windows to get fresh air into space. With such, you may let in the hot moisture-rich air into your cold basement room. When the warm, humid air condenses, it forms moisture on the floors and the walls.

3. An Interior Water Leak

When you’re checking for the causes of moisture in your basement concrete floor, it would be a great idea to check for possible water leaks. The leaks may be from the toilets, showers, a sink, dishwashing machine, a washing machine, and perhaps a faulty water pipe.

4. Cracks in the Foundation

With cracks on the foundation, be sure that it will be easy for water to drain on your basement floor. In some isolated cases, the water may cause cracks on the foundation and seep up to the basement concrete floor, thus making it damp. Here are ideas to level an uneven basement concrete floor. 

5. Ineffective Grading

Rain or groundwater may find its way into the basement floors due to improper grading. Conventionally, water should drain away from the building. But if the grading is incorrect, the water may drain back, seeping into the surrounding of the building and finally finding a way into the basement floor, making it damp.

How to Fix the Basement Concrete Floor Moisture Problem

1. Repair Settlement Cracks on the Floor

The practice reduces the chances of moisture seeping into the concrete basement floor. The cracks are easy to repair. All you need is a mallet, cold chisel, putty knife, and patching cement. You can fix the cracks with the flooring tools and materials. First, you should widen the cracks with a cold chisel and apply the patching cement. After that, let it settle and dry, and you’ll have the cracks sealed.

2. Use Dryer Ventilation

When a dryer is not adequately ventilated, it may add moisture to the air. The humidity may settle on the floor, thus causing a moisture build-up and musty odor on the basement concrete floor. Therefore, a dryer should be sufficiently ventilated to prevent the moisture problem on the basement floor.

3. Run Dehumidifier Regularly to Reduce Moisture

Running a dehumidifier may significantly help to reduce the humidity in the room that may condense when the temperatures drop to make the floors and wall wet. The method is the best in minimizing basement water problems due to the moisture-rich air present in the room.

4. Reduce Condensation

Water pipes are known to contribute considerably to the unwanted amount of condensation on the basement floors. The condensations may drip down onto the floor frequently, thus making the basement floor damp enough to encourage the growth of mold and mildew. Therefore, it is important to wrap the pipes with insulation foam to reduce the moisture on the floor of your basement room.

5. Fix the Problem of Ineffective Grading

Since the groundwater often gets into the basement floors due to improper grading, you should build up dirt around your foundation to create a slope for water to flow away from the foot of the building. The earth should be a minimum of one inch per foot for not less than six feet.

6. Add Gutters Where They’re Missing

Consider adding gutters where none existed and fit a minimum of one downspout for every 50 feet of an eave. Also, you should place extenders on the downspouts to disperse water at least four feet away from the building foundation. Keeping the gutters clean by regular cleaning to ensure their proper functioning is essential. Gutters are essential in protecting the basement and foundation from flooding.

7. Add a Sub-surface Drainage System

Creating a sub-surface drainage system where none existed is a great idea to keep off the problem of damp basement concrete floors. It would involve digging up the floor to set up the sub-surface drainage system, which drains into a pump to expel the moisture if none were in place. 

Bottom Line

Knowing the possible causes of the moisture problem and their solutions is a masterpiece when it comes to keeping your basement floor dry and free from mold and mildew. With that said, the tips mentioned above will help to keep your basement floor warm and dry.