Why is my basement so humid and what can I do to fix it?
My basement (in northern Minnesota) developes high humidity in the summer and I have to run a dehumidifier most of the time. The walls and floor are painted with Drylock and no moisture can be seen but the humidity level in the summer is still quite high. Any and all suggestions to improve the sitiation would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!
Basements are typically the most humid part of a home, and keeping it dry is important as you know. Minnesota has humid summers, so even if your walls have a waterproofing sealant like Drylock on them I would still expect you would need a dehumifier, so don't be distressed that it is doing its job. Keeping a basement at about 50-55% Relative Humidity is recommended so hopefully you're able to achieve that.
That being said - its still possible that some moisture is also coming through the drylock if it wasn't properly cured in the first place, but its really your choice how you want to proceed. What have you got your dehumidifier set at? And if that is just paint on raw concrete walls and floors, have you considered insulating?
I think your options are - keep the dehumidifier going if its doing it's job, re-applying a water proof paint, or doing a more extentive project like additional waterproofing and insulation. Is the basement finished? Let us know details and we can help you chart the best path forward.