With black and other forms of mold becoming an enormous problem for Americans, it has never been more important to make sure that your home is not a breeding ground. Mold is very harmful, and black mold in particular can be deadly. No one wants to go around breathing spores all day long, so finding ways to reduce your risk of having mold in your home is very important.
One of the biggest offenders when it comes to mold growth is the basement. Even if you have a finished basement, there are still risks for having excess moisture down there, and as such, the potential for mold. Dirt basements and under home crawlspaces should not be overlooked. Standing water can be a big problem with this type of basement, and you may never even know it is there.
So, what can you do to make sure that you’re not living over a health hazard? First, you will need to determine whether or not you have any damp areas in your basement. The best time to look is right after a rain storm. Go down to the basement and start feeling the walls, stopping every foot and a half or so to check. Don’t just rely on your visual skills, since there may only be slight dampness.
If you feel any sort of water, condensation or you can actually see puddles or water stains, the time to take action is right now. Most homes that are in a flood plain or very wet area come with sump pumps, but this won’t help much for a simple damp area. The first place to start is ventilation.
Proper ventilation reduces condensation and helps water evaporate properly. If you don’t have a big problem with dampness but you do notice a few areas that could use some help, this may be the issue. Consider installing a ventilation system into your basement to solve this problem.
Next, if the area is not bad or if you cannot locate the source of the leak, installing a dehumidifier can be a great and easy fix. Some homes now have whole house dehumidifiers, but even a simple unit can do the trick. Make sure that you place the dehumidifier away from a source the water to avoid electrocution and check to make sure the unit is rated for your space.
If all of this fails, you may need to seal the walls of your basement. Check with a contractor before you start this and make sure that you read the directions carefully before proceeding. While this isn’t the perfect fix, it may be the only solution for chronically damp basements. Typically, using a mix of these techniques is very beneficial and will dramatically reduce the humidity and dampness of your basement.
You may also want to have an air quality test done in your basement if dampness has been a problem for more than a few months. These tests will help determine if mold is already present in your basement.
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Originally posted 2008-09-03 05:25:23. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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