Help needed ..

[robsam]

Hi al ,

I need help with my basement as it is being very wet and air inside is realy very stinky . Actually I used to clean it on every week but it become like this again and again . Someone suggested me to use a aprilaire and dehumidifier for this problem .Please tell me if this can be a solution .
Thanks in advance .

[Mike(VA)]

A damp basement with odors cannot really be cured with a dehumidifier. My suspicion is you have drainage problems around the house or a high water table. Do you have a sump pump install? Has the basement ever flooded? If it has, was the water clear or muddy? Is the basement finished? If not, what do the walls look like? My suggestion would be to get someone in there who can evaluate the problem and propose a solution rather than just guessing that a dehumidifier will solve your problem. BTW, I guess AprilAire makes dehumidifiers but I always think of humidifiers when I see their name. Doesn't make sense for a damp basement.

Love to help more but some additional information would be nice. Thanks.

[SLS-Construction]

While I fully agree with Mike above, I would start running a regular dehumidifier immediately to help control the moisture in the air. I would hold off on the AprilAire or other products until you figure out where the moisture is coming from and deal with those issues first.

[Silvertree]

Stinky can be the effect of mold, mold likes damp areas.

Aprilaire is for adding humidity.

Dehumidifier is to remove humidity.

As Mike VA said, if your getting moisture you need to identify where its coming from, after doing that you can form a plan to prevent recurrence.

[naptownCr]

Please look at the drainage around your home. The soil around your home should slope away from the house. Look carefully at anything that could possibly retain water near the foundation. Downspouts would be the next thing to look at. Make sure the water is draining away from the house and add extentions to the downspouts if necessary. Make sure the gutters are clean and not overflowing.
Not to belabor the point but most situations like yours are caused by poor or inadequate drainage away from the house.
If the basement isn't finished take a few pieces of heavy (6 mil or more) plastic and duct tape them to a few spots on the walls and floor. Leave them there for a few days and pull them up. If you see condensation on the plastic or a darkening of the concrete or block you have an excessive moisture problem.
the last thing you want to do is hire a waterproofing company before you eliminate all the other simple DIY solutions first.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[Blue]

Having done put backs for a mold remediation firm for 5 years now, I can tell you have a potentially dangerous situation. From you description you may have spores inside the environment. You need to call a remediation firm that is certified to test your basement right away. You want to find out where the moisture is coming from and if it has reached an unsafe level.

Once they find the source you may have a claim on your home owners insurance policy. There is limits when it comes to water/moisture but then again you may be covered for this loss.

[Bender]

Heh, in our first house we had water running down the walls in the basement. A previous owner had hand dug it out and cinder blocked the walls.

Being as poor as we were I bought a case of Sikaflex and a bunch of 1' PVC and glued it down to the floor about 3 inches off the walls. I made a channel all the way around the perimeter and it dumped into the sump pump. Worked pretty good:)

[Dusty]

When I purchased this house I was looking into having my basement waterproofed due to the dampness.
I had 4 companies come out and give me estimates. All were eager to sell me systems ranging from 5k - 8k dollars except one who told me I did not have a water problem, but a condesation problem. He pulled up the floor cover and showed me the standing water in my floor drain. That mixed with hot weather made for an uncomfortable basement.

A plumber was my solution.

[robsam]

Hi all,

Its been a log time I have visited this forum. Thanks a lot for your replies. I have solved my problem with the basement. There was moisture which was coming from an underground water supply line going through the basement. I called the plumber but he was not able to figure out the problem. Then I decided to call an engineer. He reached at the exact point and now there was no problem fixing this. :idea:

[Blue]

why was that line that deep and exactly what was the process to repair the problem? Do you mean a drain line was unglued perhaps?

[robsam]

Do you mean a drain line was unglued perhaps?

You got it exactly. :)