Keeping A Finished Basement Warm Year Round

Finishing your basement is a wonderful way to add more usable space to your home without extending its footprint. Unfortunately, ambient conditions tend to make even finished basements chilly and damp. The right heating and humidity control systems can do a lot to cut down on these problems, keeping your finished basement warm and comfortable all year.

Finishing the Floor

The first step in making sure that your basement feels inviting is to provide a finished, comfortable floor. Carpet is a common choice, but it's important to make sure that the floor under the carpet doesn't have moisture problems. In many basements, mold and mildew take hold underneath the carpet, producing an unpleasant odor and an increase in allergens that can affect your respiratory health.

Make sure that your basement slab has been sealed or that you use an underlayment that will keep the carpet away from any moisture that rises up from the concrete. Take care to use an insulating layer, too; artificial materials like extruded polystyrene are best. This will keep the heat in your basement from seeping out through the ground.

Extend Existing Heating

If your home already has a forced-air heating system, you can extend the existing ductwork into the basement, providing extra heat. Make sure to adjust the registers individually in each room, so that your upstairs rooms don't end up feeling stuffy while your basement stays cold.

If your existing system doesn't have the power to heat your basement fully, think about installing a second furnace or adding other heat sources. It's worth the initial expense to have a finished basement that's truly comfortable. Some options include radiant heat in the walls and ceiling, a wood burning stove, a gas fireplace or just electric baseboard heaters.

Radiant heat is the most comfortable, but also the most expensive and inconvenient. Electric baseboard heaters are cheap and easy to install, but can cost more to operate than some other options. Gas fireplaces are clean-burning and relatively simple to install, while traditional wood burning stoves and fireplaces provide a more attractive ambiance and cheap heat.

Improve Efficiency

No matter how much heat you pump into your basement, the space will feel cold if you don't improve efficiency. Replace old single-pane windows with more efficient double-panes. Add insulation to your walls to keep heat from seeping into the surrounding earth. Check the seals on all basement windows and doors to ensure that your space doesn't suffer from drafts.

Reduce Moisture

One of the big factors that makes a basement feel cold is the higher moisture level. Even in relatively dry basements, the humidity is usually higher than upstairs. This can make a normally pleasant temperature feel clammy and chilly. Consider installing a dehumidifying unit in your ductwork or using a portable dehumidifier to reduce the overall dampness.

If you're considering finishing your basement or have a basement that has already been partially finished, don't forget about comfort. Improving your space's energy efficiency, adding supplemental heat, and adjusting the air conditions can all help you, your family, and your guests enjoy your finished basement space much more effectively. You might be surprised by the results you get with just a few changes.