Preventing Basement and Crawlspaces Mold

Mold is a very common basement and crawlspaces problem. Mold presents a real challenge in controlling the air quality in your home or business and may lead to allergies and other diseases or irritations. Usually damp and humid, basements are in many cases use as a storage area, providing optimal growth conditions for molds.

There are two important aspects to basements and crawlspaces mold prevention:

1. Controlling Humidity Levels

First step in mold prevention is humidity control. At first, you will have to measure the humidity levels in your basement to detect any unusual readings.  Take moisture measurements periodically and try to keep track of any changes that may occur as the weather changes.

If humidity levels readings are higher than 45 percent, your basement is likely to grow mold especially as it get hotter. To avoid mold growth you must take action to detect and fix any moisture sources to lower the humidity levels.

Regularly inspect your basement for any water signs to detect visible or hidden moisture sources and act fast to fix problems such as leaks or standing water. Another way to control humidity is to allow adequate air circulation in the basement. If possible, open windows and doors from time to time to refresh the air in your basement. If you cannot open doors or windows, try to circulate using a fan.

Consider running a dehumidifier in the basement to reduce air moisture especially during warm months. Newer dehumidifiers can be programmed to turn on automatically as soon as the humidity level rises above 45 percent.

2. Smart Storage

By organizing your basement and crawlspaces you take another important mold prevention step. Try to avoid storing papers, clothes, in the basement because these materials can be used as nutrition for molds allowing it to spread even faster if humidity levels rise above 50 percent.

Consider renting a storage unit in a storage facility to store personal belongings that are not frequently used. If you need to move many items out of the basement, you may want to consider hiring a moving company and save on a moving and storage package deal. Be sure to confirm that you items will be stored in a climate controlled warehouse or storage facility.

If you must store your belongings in your basement, do your best to reduce the amount of these stored materials and discard any badly damaged items. In addition, make sure to place them properly. Proper placement means that you need to store them away from outer walls, since that is where moisture is most likely to originate. For the same reason, raise stored materials from the floor and place them on a table or a raised surfaces to avoid water damage in case you basement is flooded.

Never store firewood in the basement or crawlspace because it is common for firewood to become moldy within hours from the minute humidity levels raise. When firewood becomes moldy, it generates airborne mold spores that may contaminate your indoors air quality and in some cases penetrate the HVAC system and contaminate your home by traveling through your ducts.

Related posts:

1. Cleaning a Flooded Basement
2. Remove Mold from Basement
3. The Basics of Basement Mold Removal
4. Preventing Water Damage in the Attic
5. Mold Basement – A Nightmare Story of Mold in the Basement