A finished basement is a great way to increase the size of your house and put that frequently ignored space to good use.
The reason why many people don’t do it or why these finished spaces might not get the use they should is due to basement issues that make them less than hospitable environments.
So what can you do if your basement is cold and drafty?
Learn the cause of these common basement problems so you can seek the best solutions for them and begin to enjoy the lower level of your home much more when it’s warm and cozy.
1. Above-Grade Walls
The architecture of your home and foundation can play into whether you have a cold basement.
Walls that are completely below ground tend to retain heat longer than those that are partially above a ground-level position. Why?
- Above-ground level basements tend to have windows that can become drafty.
- Another reason for this basement issue is that above-ground level walls do not benefit from the insulation factor of underground walls buried in the ground.
2. Moisture
Besides being cool and drafty, another basement problem that many homes experience is high moisture.
Whether there are cracks in the foundation or there is moisture for some other reason, moisture tends to make cool air feel even cooler.
If moisture is a problem, the best basement solution is to work with a professional who can diagnose where it’s coming from and then figure out the best solution for stopping it.
3. Slow Temperature Adjustment
Underground spaces take longer to adjust to seasonal temperature changes because the ground stays colder longer.
It can take as long as 2 months or more before the temperature in the basement warms up in the spring.
This might be great for a cool basement in the summer; however, it can mean a downright cold basement in winter.
The best solution to remedy this is a good heating system that will keep the basement warm to help the transition.
4. Single-Zone Heating Systems
One of the simplest yet most overlooked causes of a cold basement is a single-zone heating system in the house.
Since the thermostats are typically positioned within the main living space, the heating system functions to keep that space warm enough without making it too warm.
Because heat rises and basements are harder to keep warm, they simply don’t get enough heat before the system shuts off.
Add to this the fact that solar heat passing through the roof can warm the top levels of the house even faster while the lower level gets cut off from the heat.
The best remedy for this basement issue is a multi-zone furnace or some other additional way to heat the lower level of the house.
5. Improperly Adjusted Heat Registers
Although a single-zone heating system can make it harder to maintain an adequate temperature in a basement, it’s not impossible to do; it just requires careful adjustment of the heat registers.
Rather than keeping all the registers open the same amount, a better solution to this basement problem is to close the registers in the warmest rooms a little more and keep the ones in the coldest areas of the house more open.
Want A Warm Basement?
The key to having a warm basement that can function as comfortable, cozy, usable space in your home is knowing the basement issues that make keeping it warm so difficult.
Work with a basement specialist who can diagnose the problem in your basement and help you correct it with the right basement warming solution.
You’ll get much better use of the space without having to chase those chills away every time you go down there!
