this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2023
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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?

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Absolutely do a radon test and at minimum get a CO detector.

[–] SheeEttin 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Sorry, yes. :) Fixed.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Can I get away with just keeping a CO2 detector in the kitchen and bedrooms, or should there be one in the basement as well?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

Basement too.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Ps, I know someone mentioned a monitor, get it professionally done as well. It can be fixed but you don't want to mess around with it.

https://www.epa.gov/radon/epa-map-radon-zones-and-supplemental-information

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I was honestly planning on getting a test until I learned about the monitors. Might just do both

[–] nowwhatnapster 2 points 11 months ago

Check out wave things. They make all in one CO2, radon, humidity, temp monitors. Good for long term monitoring of radon and other undesirable things.

[–] TenderfootGungi 13 points 11 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.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 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 8 points 11 months ago

Dehumidifier so your weights don't get nasty.

[–] MiddleWeigh 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I would suggest an air monitoring tool like Airthings: https://www.airthings.com/wave-plus

This will monitor not just Radon but other contaminants.

Installed, dehumidifier, not one with a bucket you have to dump is probably a must. That or one that you can drain into the sump-pump.

Lastly a 20" boxfan filter. https://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/diy-air-filter-using-box-fan/ Its easy, cheap, and very effective.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've got a similar basement, could you tell me why a dehumidifier?

[–] nrezcm 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] nowwhatnapster 1 points 11 months ago

To add to this: around 50% humidity is generally a good target to set for indoors.