send in a question of your own

We're newlyweds and we need you to settle a bet. My husband says there's no way to keep a basement dry without a dehumidifier. I say that a dehumidifier runs up our electric bill and we should just open the basement windows on sunny days instead. We agreed to ask The Home Team, because this is about energy. The loser will be the designated snow shoveler all winter. Eagerly waiting for your verdict!

(Posted September 3, 2010)

A: Well, it looks like you two can keep each other company while shoveling, because this is a draw. While there are non-dehumidifier fixes, none of them include open windows.You see, when you open basement windows, you can draw in air from outside or from other areas of the house. In warm weather, the incoming air will usually be humid enough to condense on cooler basement surfaces, resulting in a wetter basement. If the open windows bring in colder outdoor air, you run the risk of higher heating bills and frozen pipes.

The best approach to eliminating moisture is to prevent it from coming in. If you have a dirt basement floor, the first step is to cover it with heavy plastic or another vapor barrier. Then, with any type of basement floor, be aware that moisture can enter a basement in the air and/or from the ground. To keep out airborne moisture, make the basement as closed to the outside as possible. Seal basement vents and windows and even insulate windows if you don't need the daylight. Make sure that any basement doors to the outside fit well and have weather-tight seals (bulkhead doors are not airtight). And, in the summer, keep the door between the basement and house closed whenever possible.

If the moisture in your basement comes from the ground, (and if a dirt-floor vapor barrier doesn't do the trick), you have a bigger job on your hands. Speak to a contractor, who specializes in foundation building/rebuilding, about addressing the drainage outside of your foundation. Typically, this job entails re-grading the ground and installing rain gutters and proper foundation drainage. It's an expensive project, but one that will mean a dry basement, a longer-lasting house, and healthier indoor air.

- Bob for The Home Team

Have a question about energy use in your home? Ask the Home Team! Contact Li Ling, Bob and Kathleen or call toll-free: 888-921-5990 to speak with a customer service representative.