Determine Where The Water Is Coming From.

The first thing to do is to determine where the water in your basement is coming from. It can come from inside sources, or it can be leaking in from outside. To determine whether the problem is internal or external, take a piece of aluminum foil and tape it to one of the walls that is prone to dampness. Make sure all 4 sides are sealed airtight. Check the foil in a couple of days. If the side facing into the basement is damp, then the problem is condensation. If the side of the foil that was against the wall is damp, then the water is seeping in from outside.

Install Rain Gutters.

Properly installed rain gutters and downspouts will prevent water from pooling against the foundation, where it can seep in through cracks and other openings. Keep your gutters clean, and free of debris. Install a wire strainer over the downspout outlet, to keep the debris from clogging the downspout. Check the area where the downspout drains. If it's too close to the house, use a splash block to disperse the water, or direct the downspout away from the foundation.

Slope the Lawn Away.

Slope your lawn away from the house, about 1 inch per foot. The slope should extend at least 10 feet from the foundation. Seed the lawn well, so that the grass prevents the soil from washing away. If you can't change the slope of your lawn, then intercept and redirect the surface drainage, by digging a shallow drainage ditch, and diret it away from the house.

Prevent Condensation.

Excess moisture in the air will cause a condensation problem in your basement. Make sure that your basement gets adequate airflow, and is properly ventilated. Keep the windows closed in rainy or humid weather, since the air inside your basement will probably be drier than the outside air. Use the AC to cool and dry the air during warm weather, and keep the basement heated in the winter, to help keep things dry.

Fix Other Sources Of Moisture.

If there are any pipes or appliances leaking, then they should be fixed immediately. If you have clothes hanging in the basement to dry, that can cause some moisture problems as well. Instead of hanging clothes in the basement to dry, you should dry them outside, or use the dryer. If that isn't possible, then at least open the windows.

Keeping your basement dry doesn't have to be complicated. Just by doing a few simple things, you can keep your basement dry and comfortable all year.