Are you looking for the best ideas on how to ventilate a basement? Basements can be some of the stuffiest places. This is because they are usually lacking in ventilation. Stuffiness, mold and an unpleasant atmosphere can tend to characterize a basement if you do not take care of it.
In this article, we will take a look at the different ways in which you can get the air in a basement cleaner and more breathable. These include using an air purifier, installing specific windows, or using DIY methods to clean the air. Let’s delve into some of the top ways to refresh.
Why does my basement smell bad?
There are different reasons why your basement may smell weird. One of the reasons why you may not like the smell coming from your basement could be because of humidity that could find its way into the basement. Mold and mildew can form in a basement if there are moist conditions. As the mold and mildew grows, it can cause a smell to develop in the basement.
Basements are underground, which means that they may have very little to no ventilation. Because of this, they are prone to stuffiness, and strange smells. Since they are under the house, they don’t get much air. The other reason why there may be a funny smell is if there is a sewer burst or back up. This may be caused by a plumbing issue.
The basement is not always the most visited place unless you’ve turned it into a living space. as such, there may be something perishable;e that you’ve forgotten down there, and now it’s gone bad. Or you may have a dead rodent stuck somewhere.
Regardless of the reason why your basement has a smell in it, if you can smell it, then you have to find ways of getting rid of it.
Ways to get rid of basement smells
The key is to ventilate. And so if you have windows in the basement then you can open them to let fresh air in and circulate. This usually works if the outside air is relatively clean. There are different ways to ventilate a basement including mechanical, portable and natural means of ventilation.
Trace the source.
The first thing that you need to do is to find out where the smell is coming from. This way, if it’s something that you can remove, then remove it. After you get rid of the source, you can then look for ways to freshen up the room and get rid of residual smells. It is at this point that you now think of other ways to get rid of weird smells.
Install egress windows
This is one of the ways to ensure that you get fresh air flowing through the basement. Egress windows are large windows that can also be used to exit the house in case of an emergency. They are installed to ventilate the room. Installing these will require you to dig a hole into the foundation of your home and embark on a much bigger renovation project than installing regular windows. This can be a taxing and more costly method, and if your home doesn’t already come with them, you may find it to be a lot of work.
Get an air purifier
One of the least tasking ways to get clean air is to buy an air purifier that can tackle, mold, mildew, and odors. These odors should also include gases and VOCs. To know what an air purifier can do for you, you will need to check on the filters that it comes with. Not all filters can deal with all contaminants. Hepa filters for instance are made to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns.
The features that you will need to ensure the air purifier has, also include an activated carbon filter, which helps trap odors, as well as an ultraviolet light. The right features together can help you get rid of 99.97% of allergens. Air purifiers are also classed by the size of the room that they can filter. Look for an air purifier with the capacity to cover the size of your basement.
Also, check on how to connect the purifier to a power source. They can be scarce in a basement, so make sure that you have enough give in the cord to place the air purifier in the appropriate space. also check on the clean air delivery rate which is measured in cubic feet per minute. This will tell you how long you can expect the purifier to take to clean the air in your basement.
Air purifiers also have air quality indicators. It comes in handy if the air purifier tells you when the air quality has improved.
Forced air system.
You can also install a forced-air system like an HVAC which can be connected to the existing one you have in your home. Most HVAC systems will also have a dehumidifier and an air purifier. This is a permanent air filtration method meaning that you can not move it around. It can help keep the air with the right moisture levels.
One of the simplest options is to plug in a fan and let it blow away any foulness.
Dehumidifier
You can also use a dehumidifier to get rid of moisture in the air. Getting rid of moisture in the air is also the best way to get rid of mold and all the shenanigans that comes with it. Most portable dehumidifiers are simple enough to use and don’t need a professional installer. Some of the things to consider when buying a dehumidifier is to check on the size of the collection bucket so that you know how long you can run it for.
Final thought
Basements can be unpleasant when there is a nasty smell of mustiness. We have looked at some of the ways that you can clean the air. The method that you settle on, depends on how dirty your basement air is. We hope some of the methods we have looked at, help you decide on the one you feel would work best for your situation.