Basements are common locations for mold growth because it tends to be moist down there. That doesn’t mean you have a leaky basement (although it could mean that). Basements are moist because they are in the ground, and ground moisture seeps through foundations and increases the humidity in the environment. Couple that with stagnancy, and you have a recipe for mold growth. In this article, we are going to discuss practical steps to preventing basement mold.
Moisture in basements penetrates everything, which is why it is important to be responsible for moisture removal and investment in mold-resistant products. If moisture is allowed to linger, mold can grow in books, clothing, and even inside of the walls. There are things you can do to protect your basement from moisture.
Preventing Basement Mold Steps
1. De-humidifier
The first thing you can do is invest in a high-quality dehumidifier. You’ll be surprised how much moisture it can suck out of the air, and if you have a moist basement, you’ll be dumping the reservoir on a daily or every-other-day basis. Dehumidifiers also measure the humidity in the room, which can give you an idea of whether your efforts are working. Thirty to 50 percent is the ideal humidity for mold control. If you have moisture, you may have numbers much higher than that.
2. Ventilation
Stagnancy also makes an area more prone to mold growth. Getting airflow can make a huge difference in preventing basement mold. Moisture needs a way to get out, and while you can get it out by removing buckets of water from your dehumidifier, you have to maintain that low humidity with ventilation. This also creates air movement, and mold loves stagnancy over movement.
3. Mold-resistant products
You can also create an environment in your basement that is less inviting to mold growth. Using insulation and drywall that is mold-resistant could be one way to achieve that. You can also choose luxury vinyl flooring over laminate or manufactured hardwood over solid hardwood. The right type of flooring can help to reduce moisture penetration in the floors and keep the building foundation safe from mold. You can get more information on various flooring types from the internet. If interested, you can look for websites like https://www.shadowwoodflooring.com/hardwood-flooring/ or similar others to explore flooring materials and talk to a professional about installation methods, costs, and more.
4. Monitor
Lastly, don’t let your basement be the area in your home that is never visited. So many mold infestations would be prevented if there were not for unoccupied areas of the home. If your basement is unfinished, put a date on the calendar to go down and check for problems every other week. Honestly, this could protect your home from a host of other problems like insect or rodent infestations that you think you would never have but then become huge problems because of inattentiveness.