New house/basement advice

[sideshowsmitty]

We just moved into a new house on Saturday. I'm excited to have a basement to store my gear, but its unfinished. We live in Atlanta so its not too hot or too cold. I'm buying a good dehumidifier today, and plan on keeping some fans down there for circulation, as the basement isn't finished and doesn't have an HVAC system. I plan on buying a Hygrometer too. If anyone has had any experiences I should know about, or has any advice on keeping my gear safe, it would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[mrhiwatt]

My Basement gets damp so dehumidifier and fan to move air helps I also never set anything directly on the floor my Speaker cabs are up on 2x4's as is my pedal board. My guitar cases are on shelving so they are fine.

MrHiwatt

 

[psychodave]

I use a humidifier in the winter and dehumidifier in the summer. I try to keep my basement between 40-60%.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Definitely de-humidifier when things start to heat up. Just picked up a drumset from a guy who clearly didn't use a dehumidifier in his basement and I have spent a few weeks polishing and cleaning it of rust in spots because dampness and sweat are a bad match. A simple unit emptied once a day goes such a long way.

 

[sideshowsmitty]

Thanks everyone. We just moved in a few days ago so my amps are just set on the floor and the guitars are in their cases for now. I plan on getting some rugs down there in the next few days. I"m glad I finally have a place to play, as the garage at the other house was always too hot or too cold. We hope to finish the basement in the next 2-3 years, but may do it sooner. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[japetus]

I agree with the cabs on 2x4s just in case of flooding, but I live about a mile from the Mississippi River...so I tend to be paranoid.

 

[fek]

Years ago a band I was in rehearsed at the other guitar players house. Said no water has ever been in the basement, etc... I had a 4 space rack that only had a Juice Goose in it on the top spot. Sat a Mesa 2X12 on top of that with a Tverb head on top of that.

Get a call that the basement flooded! Luckily only made it up to not quite the bottom of the Juice Goose.

Moral of the story, if it's in a basement, keep the expensive stuff off of the floor.

 

[shredhead7]

Thanks everyone. We just moved in a few days ago so my amps are just set on the floor and the guitars are in their cases for now. I plan on getting some rugs down there in the next few days. I"m glad I finally have a place to play, as the garage at the other house was always too hot or too cold. We hope to finish the basement in the next 2-3 years, but may do it sooner. Thanks again for the advice.

I would hold off on the rugs until after you have a good rain. Buying a house in the dryer winter months makes every basement look good. Wait until you get a nice spring shower to assess any leaks, then do the fit and finish.

 

[ClintN667]

Thanks everyone. We just moved in a few days ago so my amps are just set on the floor and the guitars are in their cases for now. I plan on getting some rugs down there in the next few days. I"m glad I finally have a place to play, as the garage at the other house was always too hot or too cold. We hope to finish the basement in the next 2-3 years, but may do it sooner. Thanks again for the advice.

I would hold off on the rugs until after you have a good rain. Buying a house in the dryer winter months makes every basement look good. Wait until you get a nice spring shower to assess any leaks, then do the fit and finish.

This winter hasnt been dry for us in the South East this year.

 

[skullfxr]

Good concrete sealent on the walls is huge. Redguard is a great product. Put it around the windows, block the bottom door permanently and seal it with reguard.

I am in FL with a shop and small studio in my garage. I have an AC unit mounted and sealed on the sealed permanent door that does not open. AC is at 77 with the dehumidifier setting on 24/7 in the summer I use a dehumidifier and empty it every day.

 

[Kordoba]

I can only speak for what we often do for Minnesota basements, so some of this might not apply or be overkill for where you live.

Many basements have a sump pump along with a battery backup for when the power goes out. Others complement the sump pump with a drain tile system to divert water away from the foundation and to the sump. Drain tile installation is expensive, but for those with a basement full of thirsty sheet rock and carpet it's good insurance.

Check your floor drain periodically to make sure debris has not found its way to your drain and plugged it. I have a check valve in my floor drain. It's similar to a drain plug but it lets water in the drain but does not let it back out. In the event of sewer backup the check valve may or may not hold. Even if it did hold, the sewer could still back up thru the main stack or my washing machine drain pipe. A check valve can also be installed on the drain pipe outside of the house in the yard, but that requires excavation and again is expensive. I also pay extra for a sewer backup endorsement on my homeowners insurance.

Half of my basement has a false floor which is made of wood and sits about 4 inches on top of the concrete. That is where I keep my guitars and amps. My basement floor is pitched correctly so if water gets in or a pipe ruptures it will flow to the floor drain. I have at least one dehumidifier running in the summer and sometimes two.

Make sure downspout extensions are installed to divert water away from your foundation.

 

[ZEEGLER]

I use a humidifier in the winter and dehumidifier in the summer. I try to keep my basement between 40-60%.

40% is fine, but anything over 50% is far too high humidity level. If you have decent windows, in the winter you will get moisture on the inside of your windows as the humidity gets into the high 40s. That's the beginning of mildew/mold conditions. Not good.

 

[psychodave]

I use a humidifier in the winter and dehumidifier in the summer. I try to keep my basement between 40-60%.

40% is fine, but anything over 50% is far too high humidity level. If you have decent windows, in the winter you will get moisture on the inside of your windows as the humidity gets into the high 40s. That's the beginning of mildew/mold conditions. Not good.

My basement is dry. So much so we didn’t even have a sump pump in the floor. Never had water in our basement since buying it in 2004. Only mosture is from the AC running in summer months. I keep a dehumidifier right near it to keep it dry. Typical in the hottest of summer days it’s around 55%. That said when we get a few days of a heat wave it creeps up to 60% since the AC is cranking non stop.

 

[sideshowsmitty]

It rained yesterday, and the humidity was at 47%. I bought a nice Whirlpool dehumidifier from Costco and I set it to 35% which is what it should be when I get home. Thanks everyone for the advice. I assume its best to leave guitars in cases and not on stands. (?)

 

[splatter]

we have had so much rain in ATL that you should be able to tell if the basement leaks. I would still paint the walls with some waterproofing stuff though.
Are you from ATL or just moved here?

 

[Kordoba]

It rained yesterday, and the humidity was at 47%. I bought a nice Whirlpool dehumidifier from Costco and I set it to 35% which is what it should be when I get home. Thanks everyone for the advice. I assume its best to leave guitars in cases and not on stands. (?)

I always keep my guitars in their cases. Even while playing them.

 

[fek]

I assume its best to leave guitars in cases and not on stands. (?)

Probably but I don't. I always keep a couple LP's and super strats, along with an acoustic on a 5 guitar stand that sits in a corner of my jam space.

During the winter months in Cleveland I keep a humidifier rolling around 30% to 35%. In the summer, the humidity does get out of control on some days when the windows are open but not enough to justify a dehumidifier. The AC takes care of the really bad days. Have not had to make any adjustments on any of my guitars using this system.

 

[skoora]

i'm in Georgia and have had a basement situation for just over a year now. Have had no issues with guitars out in a multi guitar case/stand. But I do have everything in a part of the basement that was converted into a room and has a HVAC duct. The rest of the basement is finished in that it has a linoleum type floor and wood ceiling tiles but no drywall. Our laundry is down there and we have a de-humidifier for that area only, but since we sorted out a good fan for our dryer vent it hasn't been needed much.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

A basement is the bomb for playing loud. Be advised you will probably want to put some soundproofing on the ceiling and any exposed walls to kill the police complaints. Take it from someone who knows! LOL

 

[lowmantotempole]

Wow there are some people in/around Atlanta on here... I’m moving to Acworth in two weeks! We got a nice place with a finished “basement/game type room”. Can’t wait to get there!