Mold can occur anywhere in your home, but where it thrives the most is in damp and dark conditions. This is why your basement is a favorite location for this dangerous fungus to grow. Unfortunately, from here, it is an easy matter for the spores it releases to spread throughout the rest of your home, and before you know it, you have a severe mold infestation on your hands. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent mold from finding a home in your basement, and here they are.
Reduce Moisture
First of all, to prevent mold, you need to remove any sources of moisture that may allow mold to thrive. This means ensuring there are no cracks in your foundation, leaky pipes, or damaged seals on exterior doors or windows. Oftentimes this will call for a professional contractor to solve these issues, but it is worth ensuring your home doesn’t develop a hazardous mold problem.
Ensure Your Sump Pump Is in Working Order
Your home’s sump pump is a crucial tool for keeping water out of your basement. It does this by pumping any excess water in your foundation away from your home. If this pump fails, water can gather and leak into your basement. It is important to ensure this pump is in full working order; otherwise, you must act to repair or replace it before mold has the chance to grow.
Pick the Correct Flooring
Remember that your basement is at a higher risk for mold, and in order to prevent it, you would be wise to choose a flooring that it cannot easily grow on. This means no carpeting, which can provide it an ideal place to grow. Instead, consider choosing easy to clean surfaces such as stone or vinyl tiling.
Waterproof Your Homes Exterior
Preventing water from entering your home starts with the outside. Make sure to keep the landscaping around your home from allowing water to gather near your foundation. Additionally, check your gutters to make sure they are working effectively to channel water away from your home. This means keeping them clear of debris to prevent clogs that could cause them to leak near your home.
Prevent Clutter
Keep clutter to a minimum to allow air to circulate freely and make cleaning easy. Also, try to avoid placing any objects you do store directly against walls or floors where they could absorb moisture.
Ensure Any Appliances Are Vented
Many people keep their appliances such as washers and dryers in their basements. You must ensure that your dryer is vented in order to make sure that any steam it creates from drying your clothing has somewhere to go other than your basement.
Operate a Dehumidifier
Without effective ventilation to channel moist air outside your home, high humidity is very likely. This is why a dehumidifier can be a lifesaver. A dehumidifier can be a great tool for basements that lack effective ventilation to remove excess moisture from the air.
Final Thoughts
Though basements are at high risk of becoming moldy, yours does not have to be. By taking these steps to reduce your risk, you can prevent your home from developing a problem.
Contact Us
If you need help with a mold problem in your home, contact ABH Services Inc. Our mold remediation professionals are ready to help in even the most severe mold infestations. Call us at (781) 941-2422 and connect with us on Facebook.