Keep Your House Safe From Wetness Of Winter

Fri., Dec. 22, 1995

Amy Mickelson Washington State Energy Office

Have the recent rains caused ponds to collect around your home or inundate your basement? Keeping basements and crawl spaces dry avoids problems with water damage to floor and wall insulation and excessive moisture levels inside the home.

Excessive water can penetrate basements and crawl spaces and moisten insulation. Wet insulation has decreased insulating capability.

Excessive moisture can result in water condensing on windows and other surfaces inside the home. This can contribute to mold, mildew, fungal growth and greater chances for health problems. Opening windows or operating exhaust fans is just a short-term solution. While ventilation can control the symptoms, it doesn’t solve the problem. And opening windows at this time of year wastes energy and is uncomfortable. It is better to find the cause and eliminate it.

First, prevent water problems by diverting water away from your home. Here are some measures you can take to control moisture, provide proper drainage and prevent seepage into your home and other structures:

Outside the house

Slope soil around the house in a way that diverts water away from the house. Install gutters that divert water from the roof, and downspouts that direct water at least three feet away from the house.

Keep gutters clear of debris - leaves, pine needles, bird nests. Keep window wells clean and free of leaves and other debris, with the soil level in the window well six inches below the top of the concrete foundation wall.

Install a drain system if your driveway slopes into a basement garage. This prevents water from draining into the basement.

Basement

Make sure the floor drains in your basement are in good repair. Check and maintain any sump pumps twice a year. Place storage items on pallets or shelving four inches or more above the concrete slab.

Floors above unheated basements should be well-insulated (R-30). Seal air entry routes through the floor. Look for openings around plumbing and electrical service and where ducts penetrate the floor.

Crawl space

Provide crawl space vents with one square foot of venting for every 300 square feet of crawl space floor area. Keep soil and vegetation away from crawl space vents to allow for maximum air circulation. Keep vent screens clean. Place 6-mil black plastic over the entire soil area in the crawl space. Keep a minimum clearance under beams of 12 inches, and under floor joists of 18 inches. Floors above crawl spaces should be well-insulated (R-30).

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