Is a wet basement ever no big deal?

[Heather Schmidtknecht]

I’m looking at a small duplex for sale that is about 130 years old... when I viewed the property, the basement floor was wet, despite the fact that it had not rained for over a week. The house is built against a bluff (hill), and the realtor made a comment that the wall looked wet near where the floor was wet. I have been told anecdotally by others that it is not uncommon for basements in this town to be wet, and that some even have running springs (what?!?) in the basement! So my question is... is a wet basement ever no big deal??

[Sharlene Mulchandani]

@Heather Schmidtknecht I know that moisture in basements can be a common problem in a few states but it is still a big deal. A wet basement is not only smelly but can lead to bigger problems like structural damage, and toxic mold that is hazardous to your health.