How to Keep Your Basement Dry Without a Dehumidifier

June 16, 2020October 28, 2020 Editor

A humid basement is a common struggle among homeowners. Try what you want, the moisture will eventually come back. That’s why professionals advise on having a dehumidifier ready in your basement. Seeing as how they can be quite expensive, many ask if there is an alternative.

That’s what we’ll be doing here. A guide on how to keep your basement dry without using a store bought dehumidifier.

Instead of using a dehumidifier, you need something else to absorb the moisture. You can use plants, desiccants, fans, and open windows. The best way to eliminate the moisture is to eliminate the source, it’s not always possible though.

Keep reading, we’ll discuss each alternative thoroughly.

Why is my basement humid?

Now, we have to understand why your basement is humid before we go on with the guide. Running a dehumidifier or an alternative only makes sense when you can’t get rid of the source of the moisture. Or, just after you have fixed the source.

Here are the usual suspects.

Sump basin

If your basement requires a sump pump, it’s naturally humid. The pump removes the water and sends it to a safe location. However, a couple of things can go wrong with the pump and the pit.

A sump basin that it’s larger or smaller than it should be can cause problems. So, make sure that your pump is the right size for your basin. Also, if you have doubts about the construction of the basin, call a professional.

Other problems occur because of sump pump failure. Like any unit in your house, the pump is not 100% reliable. A faulty float switch will not turn on your pump when needed. If the pump isn’t pumping as much it should be, the excess water in the pit will release moisture.

It is recommended that every basin has a small amount of still water at the bottom. This prevents gases and odors entering your basement. However, that still water still releases moisture, especially with shorter basins. So, installing a cover for the pump is a must.

Bathroom above the basement

The bathroom may be causing trouble and you can hardly notice it. The thing is, a bathroom tile or more can be cracked. Water will be entering your basement ceiling drop by drop. In due time, it will be enough to increase the humidity so it’s obvious.

Broken wax seal rings can also increase the humidity in your basement. These are easily recognizable; the bathroom won’t be working quite properly.

Plumbing problems

This is the worst case scenario because it’s the hardest to deal with. Many pipes run through the basement, if one is cracked, trouble occurs.

Checking for leaking or cracked pipes can be hard. Check every easily accessible pipe that goes through your basement. Also, check the walls around the basement for wet areas, this can be a sign of a cracked pipe. If there is a problem with the pipes, fix it before drying the basement

Plants in the basement

It may sound absurd, plants in the basement, seeing as how light rarely enters. However, it has been known to happen. They don’t have to be exactly in the basement, placing them near a basement window is also dangerous.

The moisture from the plants will enter your basement. It may seem insignificant but basements with a lack of natural ventilations suffer. Of course, one or two plants don’t make a difference, I’m talking about a collection.

Humid outside air

In hot humid weather areas, it’s hard to keep the basement dry without a dehumidifier. Not just the basement but every room in the house. An AC is a necessity in these kinds of areas. So, when the warm humid air meets the cold air in your home, it creates a vapor.

Basements are naturally cold, and outside air can easily enter. You can try to seal your basement but it’s just too much effort. Also, it’s not that efficient, you can’t keep the window closed all summer. So, some kind of a dehumidifier is a must.

Go through the usual suspects and make sure you know where the moisture in your basement is coming from.

How to detect humidity?

Moisture is easily detectable if there’s a water leak or the sump pump failed. You can feel the humidity, the air will be heavy and musty.

If the moisture is present long enough, mold will appear. Look for mold on the walls, and see if the air has a distinct smell.

The most practical way is to get a humidistat. This device will tell you the percent of humidity in your basement. Some humidistats come with a built-in fan. It’s not an expensive device to have, a necessity if you’re having humidity issues. Here’s an affiliate link to a top rated humidistat on Amazon if you’re interested in getting one.

You know enough, let’s get to the actual fix.

How to keep the basement dry?

I’ll suggest methods that have proven to be effective. And, methods that are available to anyone. Let’s start.

Use desiccant

Desiccants are substances that absorb in moisture, hence, used as a drying method. There are a number of desiccants, some more effective, some less. Choose what you prefer.

Silica gel. Although the name may not sound familiar, you’ve definitely seen one. Silica gel comes in a little packet. You know, those little packets that come with shoe boxes. Place them around the basement, and they will absorb the moisture. Replace the packets when used up.

Charcoal. It acts the same way as any desiccant. Place it in a little bowl with holes on the bottom. Think of bowls used for draining pasta water. Then, place the bowl with the charcoal on a bucket. There you go, you have a DIY humidifier. The charcoal will absorb the moisture and the bucket will collect it. Replace the charcoal after it looks all soaked up.

Crystal salt or rock salt. Another efficient desiccant. Put in a bowl and place it where it will absorb moisture the most. You can add more than one bowl if you’re feeling extra. Change the salts after 2-3 weeks.

Baking soda. You already know about baking soda; you’ve used it for carpet stains for sure. Use the same instructions as crystal salts.

Desiccant bags. Similar to the silica gel, used for keeping clothes dry in closets. You can find this on Amazon. Place the bags around the basement and replace them when necessary.

Use moisture absorbent plants

Although most plants increase moisture, some absorb it. These are plants that don’t need much sunlight or water. Ask the florists for plants like this. Popular examples are: Cactus, Peace Lily, English Ivy.

Install ventilation and isolation

Basement fan. Although not much different from a dehumidifier, it is an efficient method. It certainly is cheaper than a dehumidifier. Install the fan and run it when the humidistat tells you to. Make sure you run the moisture outside.

Isolate walls. If you’re really having problems with the humid outside air, a good fix is isolation. This is not necessary where the moisture comes from inside the basement

Install vents. Now, if you’re thinking big, you can install a whole ventilation system. Of course, if you’re thinking big, your basement must be huge too. So, there’s no need for this with normal basements.

Open windows to let the moisture out

This method comes to everyone’s mind. It can be useful but not always. The trick is to be mindful of the air outside. So, if the air outside is dry, open the windows. However, when the outside air is damp, you’re just making things worse.

These were the dehumidifier alternatives, I’m sure you can find something which suits you. Good luck!