Using Convereted Basement as a Utility Room and Drying Room Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[burt12345]

Hi,

I hope I'm posting in the right topic, please let me know if I'd be better moving it.

We are about to embark on doing a DIY tanking of our damp basement (rear wall below ground), we will use a membrane system and sump pump.

Once that is complete, we'd like to partition the room, and use the end half as a utility room for drying clothes.

Ideally I like to install underfloor heating in the basement, so this contributes to heating the two floors above it.

However, if we use half the basement for drying clothes, then we need to vent this half at least (heat recovery vent?), and somehow stop the damp air rising to rooms above. This drying room will be approximately half the length of the lounge above, and the other half of the basement used as a coats and boots room - so if necesary I guess the heat from this half could contribute to heating the rest of the house.

How is the best way to go about this, surely it is possible as I know you can have bathrooms in basements. Also for summer drying, are we best to install an electric rad, or is there some way we can create a airflow that self circulates?

I just don't want to go to the trouble of damp proofing and then cause self inflicted issues!

many thanks

[TheDoctor4]

Hi

It sounds like you are going to need to add some form of ventilation system as, as you say, the act of drying items will produce moisture and you will need to remove this moisture somehow to prevent it building up or finding its way into other areas.

If you click on the following link, the company that help us produce the content are specialist in damp and damp solutions and they may be able to offer you some further help and advice on a solution: https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/condensation.htm

Kind Regards