Heating needed in basement?

[Beeman349]

Looking at building a cabin in northern Wisconsin. Loamy sand soils, well drained, water table much deeper than the foundation. Assuming we blow the water out of the water lines during winterizing, would the basement need to be heated? I've heard differing opinions and I can't seem to think of a reason why it would need to be.

I'm a drinking water engineer so it's not really my area of expertise. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

 

[msquared48]

I would keep a minimum of heat in it, say 45 to 50 degrees or so. I would also have a dehumidifier running with some air circulation, although with extreme cold outside, that may not be a local problem as it is here in the Northwest where I am.

I assume this is a full or daylight basement with retained soil? I imagine the frost depth there is around 4 feet or so. If the basement is allowed to get below freezing too, it could affect the footings as the frost might then have to be measured from the interior finish grade in the basement rather than the exterior finish grade.



Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[oldestguy]

If you are concerned about the basement walls shoving in due to frost heave, then the backfill to the walls should be non-frost susceptible material, say within a line up from footings at 45 degrees. This probably would be a good idea even if occupied, because likely you would also have an insulating layer on the foundation walls, which retains heat inside minimizing the warming outside. Due to the glaciation of the area finding clean sand for backfill should be pretty easy. A crude test of the material would be soaking it should produce little discoloring, but a sieve test would show no more than 5 percent passing he No. 200 sieve is better.

 

[dicksewerrat]

See what the other neighbors that go south have for basements.
Talk to local builders and nearest town inspectors. I don't have a basement so I just blow down and head south. I'm over by Duluth. When you get ready to blow down, power down the water heater about an hour before. then check it again before you start the air compressor. Remember to close all valves when done. If some one else powers up the house to have the gas company start the furnace for you.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com