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No, your basement dehumidifier doesn’t need to be on 24/7. While it’s an excellent tool for tackling damp, musty air, especially in humid seasons, leaving it running nonstop can backfire. Over-drying the space can mess with your sinuses, warp wood, and even crack certain materials. Instead, only use your humidifier when moisture levels rise above 50%, and then give it a break when the humidity levels drop.

A walkout basement is considered to be partially below grade because at least one wall is entirely exposed. In some cases and in specific municipalities, inspectors and appraisers will still count walkout basements as below grade, which means the space can’t serve as living space or be rented out. If you intend on using the area as living space or a separate apartment, you should check with your local building department to make sure it’s legal to do so.

Anything having to do with the structure of your home, such as raising the ceiling, is usually the most expensive part of finishing a basement. Another project component that could be a surprisingly high expense is adding an exterior entrance. 

The cost of a walkout basement can be anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000.

A leak under your foundation from a water supply line or sewage line is likely to lead to water pooling on certain areas of your property during rainfall, abnormally fast-growing or green grass in certain sections of your lawn, and differential settlement of your foundation, which can result in large foundation cracks, windows and doors failing to operate properly, a wavy or sloping roofline, or damages or irregularities in your interior walls, including cracks and bulging. If it’s a plumbing line embedded in your slab, you’ll also likely notice above-average water bills.