So as I deal with preparing my mom’s house for sale, I am finding a ton of things that are learning opportunities.
So here ya go! There is no sump pump or French drain at mom’s. Never has been. In heavy rains, we would get water on the floor. My parents had a portable pump they used and would drain water into the washer. It worked just fine except the dampness would linger, like in many of your homes!
No one wants that odor or the risk of mold and mildew growing. Those organisms LOVE dark, moist conditions.
So what can you do to keep things dry and keep your house healthy?
In the last few weeks, I found that mom’s dehumidifier wasn’t working so well. (It was the same one we had since I was a kid, 38 yrs and counting!) One day I couldn’t get it to run at all. But the bigger issue was that I am not there for days and the collection bin needs to be emptied in order for it to run. I had an idea!
We aren’t doing laundry anytime soon so why not put the dehumidifier on the dryer and gravity feed the water collection into the washer. BINGO! This gave us days of water collection.
The unit is running on continuous mode, the washer is filling up and the basement has never been drier.
A Few Takeaways…
- Replace equipment. Just because it still “works” doesn’t mean it is efficient. Consider the energy usage and efficiency you are getting.
- Shop around. I found a 3 yr old dehumidifier on Facebook sales for $125. New units list for $250 for a comparable size.
- Set up your dehumidifier for continuous cycle. Ideally, drain it to a sump pump. If none is available consider placing the unit on a stable secure shelf near your washer. Empty it by running the spin cycle once every few days. Wipe the washer drum with bleach before doing your next load of laundry!
Other Humidity Hacks. Simple. Effective.
- Use the Air Conditioner if you have one. Yes it costs money to run but cuts the dampness down and will prevent mold in really humid settings.
- Run ventilation fans when cooking and showering. No fan in your bathroom or kitchen? Open the window and position a box fan to move air outside.
- Take colder showers in the summertime.
- Fix plumbing leaks promptly so moisture doesn’t lead to mold. This pipe sealant is a great fix for little drips.
- Clean or change your A/C filter – central and window units alike.
Foam Pipe Insulator
Damp Rid
Pipe Sealant
- Keep gutters clear so rainwater can be moved away from the foundation, reducing basement moisture.
- Keep Boston Ferns indoors. They absorb moisture.
- Use DampRid moisture collectors. They do help suck out dampness from the air. Here’s what I use.
- Line dry your clothes. Running the dryer can generate more humidity.
- Wrap your pipes in foam insulators to minimize condensation. Click here to see what I’m talking about!
I hope this helps your humidity issues.
