If you have a basement, you may find it quite uncomfortable spending time there because of the excess heat and high humidity.
While trying to regulate these conditions in the basement, you may start by asking…..
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Should The Basement Door Be Open Or Closed During The Summer?
Typically, it is wrong to leave the basement doors open in summer, especially when the AC or dehumidifier is running. However, you can open the basement door at night to allow cool air from the basement to flow to other parts of the house when you have switched the AC and dehumidifier off.
Having the basement open when it is too hot is generally discouraged. In summer, the temperature rises to 85 degrees Fahrenheit on several days.
Regardless of your basement type, it is important to regulate energy efficiency and cost.
It will be less important if you are trying to cool the house, but the cool air gets through the open basement door and settles there, leaving the entire house cold.
Four Benefits Of Keeping The Basement Door Open
While it is advisable to close the basement door, there are times when you may find it very necessary to keep it open.
Here are a few benefits of keeping the basement door open:
- Keeping the basement door open in areas where the summers are dry and less humid can save you on the cost of using a dehumidifier.
- When the doors are open, the cold air in the basement will rise and cool the upper rooms in your house. However, this can only happen if your basement is not insulated.
- Opening the basement door will save you on energy costs that could have been incurred while running an AC or dehumidifier.
- With an open basement, air circulates effectively, thus reducing humidity by making it hard for moisture to settle on the basement walls.
Two Problems With Keeping The Basement Door Open
Opening a basement door in summer is only practical in areas with dry air summers.
However, if you live in areas with high humidity and hot air in summer, You should not open the basement because of the following two reasons.
- The basement will get extremely moist or damp because more cold air will be accumulating inside the basement.
- When operating a dehumidifier or air conditioner in other rooms of the house, opening the basement will strain the dehumidifier by making it work extra harder to regulate the excess humid air from the basement.
Two Benefits Of Keeping The Basement Door Closed
Regardless of the type of basement in your house, closing a basement in summer can be both advantageous and not.
Whether it is completely underground or partially underground, closing a basement door will allow either of these conditions.
- If you live in humid areas, you will be stopping the flow of warm, humid air from the basement to the entire house. If you have a dehumidifier running, it will work effectively without being strained by excess humid air.
- You block draft that causes general discomfort from escaping from the basement.
Three Problems With Keeping The Basement Door Closed
- Closed basement doors lead to poor air circulation in your basement, which can cause mold growth on the basement walls.
- The air in a closed basement house can be misty due to poor ventilation.
- The misty air can sometimes produce a bad smell making your house have a bad odor.
Tip: If you want to close the basement door throughout the summer, ensure your house and basement have proper ventilation.
How To Keep The Basement Dry In The Summer
Apart from using a dehumidifier, there are other alternative methods of keeping the basement dry while saving on energy costs and without interfering with the air conditioning of other rooms in the house.
1. Put Houseplants Near Windows
Set some house plants near the basement windows or at strategic places in the basement.
The plants will help remove excess moisture from the air and also contribute to purifying the air by naturally filtering away toxins in the air.
2. Place DampRids in the basement
Using a damprid is the best way to remove humid air from the basement.
It is also important to note that these damp-rid are extremely flammable; therefore, you need to put them in places where they will not get close to flames or fire sparks.
You can place them near windows, vents, or other openings in the basement. This will also help prevent external moisture from getting inside the basement.
3. Use Fans
Install wall mount fans in the basement to help push the moist air up.
If you have portable fans, place them on raised surfaces like the furniture to improve their effectiveness.
For the portable fans, take caution with electricity before moving them.
Fans perform best in drying the air, especially in areas that trap moisture and increase humidity.
4. Purchase Area Rugs
To block moisture from seeping into the walls, use area rugs. You can also place them in areas with tiles or hardwood floors.
They help absorb moisture and prevent the wooden floor from warping due to high humidity.
When they get wet, remove them to dry the place.
If you don’t dry the wet carpets, they will get heavy and stuffy, making the basement more uncomfortable.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a multipurpose ingredient and can serve as an absorbing agent and will absorb moisture from the humid air.
Put baking soda in plastic bags and hang the bags on the ceiling or just position them carefully on the wall.
You can also put the baking soda on open bowls and place them in areas that get damp frequently.
6. Improve The Basement Drainage And Waterproofing
Add extra drainage tunnels with additional sump pumps.
To enhance efficiency, also install extra waterproofing mechanisms on the basement walls.
Waterproofing helps block water from seeping back into the basement.
However, this is a pricier option for keeping the basement air dry.
First, weigh other options before upgrading the basement.
If you find it expensive to buy a dehumidifier or install an entire air conditioning system, you can consider the above methods.
You will keep your basement comfortable and with dry air without incurring any electric bills.
Conclusion
If you have a basement in your house, you will notice that it gets too damp in summer.
This is because of the extra heat and humid air usually experienced in most places during this hot season.
If you are unsure how to handle your basement door during summer, consider simply closing it and applying the tips mentioned in this article to keep the basement air cool and free from humidity.
