4 Tips for Keeping Your Basement Warm This Winter

We want our homes to be warm and comfortable in the winter. Homeowners tend to give their house a quick inspection before winter arrives to ensure they are prepared for the cold temperatures. We inspect our homes from top to bottom to make sure they are ready for winter. But what about the basement? If you neglect your basement when winter-proofing your home, you will likely end up with an uncomfortable or unusable space by the end of winter. Luckily, we have some tips to keep your basement warm and dry all winter long. Keep reading to learn more.

Have Proper Insulation

The first and most critical step to keeping your basement warm is installing proper insulation. Without insulation, your efforts to fight the cold will give you more trouble than it’s worth. Insulation is meant to reduce the rate of heat transfer in a room. Without insulation, there is nothing stopping the cold from sucking the warmth from your home.

Be Aware of Mold and Mildew

Dark, damp basements are the perfect breeding grounds for growing mold and mildew. If you ignore the signs, mold and mildew can multiply without you even noticing. When these substances get into your carpet, walls, furniture, or clothing, mold and mildew can be nearly impossible to get rid of. Identifying the signs early will help you keep them at bay, and keeping your basement warm and dry provides protection.

Look for Water Leakage

Water can enter your basement in many ways, whether through foundation issues, groundwater seeping through the walls, melted snow, or faulty plumbing. If you have a sump pump, the discharge line can freeze and cause water to back up and flood the basement. Basement water can damage your floors and carpets. It can also affect your electrical system, causing power outages and damage to household appliances. As temperatures fluctuate and water melts and freezes, it can significantly damage your foundation, threatening your home’s structural integrity. 

Inspect Your Foundation

Tiny cracks in the foundation are usually not an issue. But, winter can cause water in those cracks to create an unstable foundation. Movement in your foundation can cause problems for the entire house and create cracks in the basement floor and walls. To protect your foundation, ensure that the ground around it slopes away from the home so water won’t pool and cause problems. Be sure to inspect your foundation before winter and take care of any cracks or other foundation issues before they turn serious. It is also a good idea to look around your home and check for cracks and other openings in the exterior.

Contact All Aspects Waterproofing Today to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality!

When it comes to finding the best solution for your crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing needs, contact All Aspect Waterproofing, a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company with over 30 years of experience in the Washington, DC./Maryland/Virginia area. We have a great deal of experience in waterproofing, mold testing, and mold remediation, and we want to make you feel at home again. Contact us online or by calling 1-866-999-3110 or 301-766-4420.  To see what we’re up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Houzz.