Hey Y’all

Bought a new home in New England with a stone basement or a rubble basement, whatever you want to call it. The floor is concrete. The home is on a hill, and well above the water table, but it’s got a stump pump because stone basements can still weep if it’s wet enough, I believe. I know I’ll need to throw a dehumidifier in there and aim for 40%.

The home inspection didn’t turn up asbestos or anything like that, but I want to know if there are health hazards I should consider. Thinking about doing a radon test, are there any other tests I should do? Or items I should consider?

  • @TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world
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    1310 months ago

    The ones I have been in were not 100% water tight. They seeped a bit after big rains. I would not put anything too valuable there until you know.

  • falsem
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    1010 months ago

    If you plan to deadlift then get something to protect the concrete. You don’t have to lift THAT heavy to crack the concrete.

  • SpaceBar
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    810 months ago

    Dehumidifier so your weights don’t get nasty.

  • @MiddleWeigh@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I don’t have a stone basement, but it’s block, on a hill, with bare floor(rocks etc). We just fixed it all up with pump, membrane, dehumidifier etc. Get a good dehumidifier with an actual pump. Some say they have pumps, but they are super weak. Get a good one.

    Before we fixed it up there was a decent bit of mold in the air. And things would collect dust then mold very quickly. So watch your stuff. Keep your nose open for mold.

    Beyond that, every house is different. I wouldn’t have an issue doing what your trying to do. I’d probably just keep a door open when I was down there or something. I don’t have mold anymore, and humidity levels are good with the membrane, seal, and dehumidifier.

    • @MonkeyBusinessOP
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      110 months ago

      Honestly that box fan filter seems like a bigger and cheaper HEPA filter, which I like. Definitely will look into the air monitor as I wanted a humidity monitor already.

      • @infinitevalence@discuss.online
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        110 months ago

        with some duct tape and a good quality filter its easily as good as an overpriced HEPA. I use them when I do construction projects to keep the dust down, and the filters are commodity parts you can get at every home improvement store, and many grocery stores.

  • @onion@feddit.de
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    18 months ago

    Btw if your basement is moist, you can get a contractor to dig open the outside walls and seal them

    • @nrezcm@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Concrete is porous as are mortar and bricks themselves I believe. Plus most basements are surrounded by a lot of earth so there is a lot of moisture to deal with. The dehumidifier will help bring the moisture down so that whatever gym equipment and whatever else is down there doesn’t start to rust/mold. I’ve never lived in a house with a basement like that so I can only assume.

    • @MonkeyBusinessOP
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      110 months ago

      My understanding is somewhat limited, but I believe the stone and concrete pull moisture in, especially when humidity is high during and after rain. That moisture then allows mold or mildew to grow on surfaces, and the moisture is absorbed into wood, which weakens it, and shortens its lifespan.

      • @bigPP@sh.itjust.works
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        110 months ago

        Well shit, guess I’ll be buying a dehumidifier then. It’s nearly always high humidity where I live.

        Thanks so much for taking the time to explain!