Their dark and damp atmosphere can make your New Jersey basement an unpleasant area of your home that you don’t dare enter unless necessary. But that doesn’t have to be the case. If you can reduce the dampness in your basement, it will quickly become less scary and provide you with a safe location to store unused items.

Locate

Where the problem occurs is the first step to reducing the dampness in your basement. For example, if the excessive moisture is coming from a localized area on the ceiling, you may have a water leak. If, however, the problem is larger — such as covering an entire room or wall –, you may have a problem with the humidity level.

Repair

To reduce the dampness in your basement caused by a water leak, you must first fix the leak. Even if you can correct the dampness, it will only return if the leak isn’t fixed. A professional plumber can evaluate the problem and fix the leaky or busted pipe causing the problem. If you notice water pooling on the basement floor after periods of rain, your foundation may be the culprit. Redirecting the downspout runoff and cleaning the rain gutters may be all that is needed to correct the problem. Other possible solutions include installing a sump pump and regarding the ground, so it slopes away from your home’s foundation.

Humidity

Controlling the humidity is a great way to reduce the dampness in your basement and can be accomplished with a variety of methods. For basements with dirt floors, covering them with a special type of plastic barrier helps prevent water vapor from entering the air through the soil. Using a whole-house dehumidifier and running fans are other ways to dry out the basement and get air circulating through the room. Furthermore, if your dryer is located in the basement, make sure it is vented outside.

For more information about how to reduce the dampness in your basement, contact the experts at Pipe Works Services. We have provided dependable services to the residents and businesses of New Jersey since 2000.

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