How To Prevent Mold In Your Basement
When people think of water damage in their basements, they often think of drastic and dire situations where they return home to find their entire basement flooded in three feet of water. These certainly do happen, but more often we see clients who had water leaking into their basement unknowingly, through the tiniest leaks in pipes or even just an accumulation of too much humidity. These are signs that are easy to overlook but can lead to considerable home damage as well as mold.
Mold is an unwelcome sight in any home, but you may not realize the other dangers that it brings, including:
- Sneezing
- Itching
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Dry, scaly skin
- Hay fever symptoms
- Increased asthma problems
- Other respiratory issues
Luckily, there are a number of ways that you can prevent mold from ever growing in your home. All it takes is a little pre-planning to ensure you never have to deal with a nasty mold infestation problem in your home.
Vent Things That Produce Moisture
Dryers, stoves, and obviously shower faucets produce water and steam, and if there’s no way for it to escape, then it will simply go onto your basement walls and ceiling. You should plan to have some way to vent this warm, humid air—even opening the windows and using a fan is better than nothing! This will keep moisture to a minimum and make it much harder for mold to make a home in your basement.
Check Pipes Regularly
Even the smallest leaks produce some amount of moisture, and these can be incredibly hard to notice if you don’t look on a regular basis. Once a month do a survey of all the pipes in your basement to check for any leaks. This way, if and when something pops up, you’ll be able to take care of it before it becomes a much bigger problem.
Seal Windows
Even a well-made home can have tiny, unnoticeable issues. Make your windows airtight to ensure no moisture can enter your basement. This is a simple task that can be taken care of in an afternoon and will save you much more time (and money!) down the road.
Use Insulation On Cold Surfaces
Any pipes and cold walls you might have can create condensation in the warmer Maryland summers. Insulation is an easy fix to prevent this.
Hire A Professional Basement Waterproofer
Of course, these are all wonderful preventative measures, but when it comes to the structure of your home and keeping water and humidity out, it’s a difficult task. A professional will be able to waterproof your basement, not only keeping everything in it safe and dry but also making mold the last thing on your mind. For more information about professional waterproofing services that AA Action Waterproofing provides, look at our website for more information.