Should You Keep The Basement Door Open Or Closed When Not In Use? Here's What We Think

Basements come in all different shapes and sizes. Some folks have dingy basements with cement floors covered in dust and cobwebs, places visited only to change the furnace filter or flip a switch on the fuse box when the power goes out somewhere in the house. For these basements, most people don't even question whether or not to keep the door open or closed — we don't want anything that might be hanging out down there coming up into our general living spaces. Of course, there are ways to make your unfinished basement more welcoming. If you have a finished or partially finished basement, you generally want to keep the door closed, but there are reasons to keep it open as well.

One consideration to keep in mind right from the start is the safety of the people in your home. If you have young children, you may want to keep the basement door closed to prevent accidents. Basement doors are one of those home hazards you may have forgotten about when it comes to child safety. Aside from safety, you might be wondering whether keeping your basement door open will help keep it cooler in the summer or warmer in the winter, or whether leaving it open can improve air circulation to prevent moisture issues. 

If your basement is finished and you want to get the most enjoyment out of it during the colder months, we suggest keeping the doors closed. The reason is that the open door can cause the cool air in the basement to swirl and remain cold, and it can rise to your upstairs too, which can make it harder to stay warm in your main living space. If you keep your upstairs heating vents open, you should be able to keep it warmer down there, and that closed door will help keep the heat from rising too quickly. When it comes to the rest of your home, you want to leave the doors open during heating and cooling to help with even air circulation. 

If you have moisture in your basement, it may be best to keep the door open to allow some circulation. To protect pets and kids, a baby gate can be installed across the doorway. Not only will the air circulation help with humidity, but it will also help keep condensation down around the house during the summer months. Another way to combat humidity is to get a dehumidifier. Here are some tips for choosing the right dehumidifier for your basement.