How to Prevent Mold in Your Basement and Crawlspace
Mold is a very prevalent basement and crawlspace problem. Mold presents a real problem in controlling the air quality in your home or business and may lead to allergies and other illnesses or irritations. Usually wet and humid, basements are in many instances utilized as a storage spot, providing optimal growth conditions for molds.
There are two essential elements to basements and crawlspace mold prevention:
1. Controlling Humidity Levels
The first and most important step in mold prevention is to humidity management. At first, you will have to measure the humidity levels in your basement to detect any unusual readings. Take moisture measurements periodically and keep a log of any changes that may occur as the weather changes.
If humidity level readings are higher than 45 percent, your basement will probably grow mold particularly as it get hotter. To prevent mold growth you must take action to detect and repair any moisture sources to reduce the humidity levels.
Routinely check your basement for any water damage to detect noticeable or concealed moisture sources and act quickly to fix issues such as leaks or standing water. Another way to manage humidity is to permit adequate air circulation in the basement. If possible, open windows and doors from time to time to freshen the air in your basement. If you cannot open doors or windows, try using a fan to circulate air .
Consider running a dehumidifier in the basement to reduce air moisture especially during more humid 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 crawlspace you take another important mold prevention action. Try to stay away from storing papers and clothes in the basement because these materials can be used as food 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 items that are not often 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 certain to confirm that your things will be stored in a climate-controlled warehouse or storage facility.
If you must store your items in your basement, do your best to decrease the amount of these stored items 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 dampness is most likely to start. For the same reason, raise stored materials from the floor and place them on a table or other raised surfaces to prevent water damage in case your basement is flooded.
Never store firewood in the basement or crawlspace because it is typical for firewood to become moldy within hours from the minute humidity levels increase. When firewood becomes moldy, it produces airborne mold spores that may contaminate your indoor air quality and, in some cases, permeate the HVAC system and contaminate your home by traveling through your ducts.
