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Basement Mold Removal and Prevention
How to Detect, Remove, and Prevent Basement Mold
By: Mark J. Donovan
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If your basement is damp or
occasionally floods, chances are you have basement mold growing in it.
Basement mold can damage your home and become a health issue for your
family.
Finding
Basement Mold
To determine if you have basement
mold growing in your basement there are number of things you can do. First,
simply smell the basement. If it smells moldy, then you more than likely
have basement mold growing. It is then just a matter of finding out where it
is and getting rid of it. Finding basement mold is not always so easy. |
Conventional building material is
ideal for growing basement mold. Basement mold grows easily on wood and paper
products, e.g. framing, faced insulation, and drywall.
| To find out where the basement mold
is growing, pay close attention to the ground level. Check the lower portion of
the walls, particularly walls with drywall on them. Basement mold typically
grows in dark, cool, moist places, so check behind paneling and drywall, and in
basement closets. Also, lift carpets and look under them. Carpet is a great
breeding ground for growing basement mold. If you have a dropped ceiling, lift
some the ceiling tiles and check for mold growing on the backside of them. |
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Pay close attention to ceiling tiles
that are directly under plumbing pipes. Also check around plumbing pipes and air
conditioning duct work.
Removing Basement
Mold
Once you have discovered the location
of the basement mold, it is important to get rid of it. Use water with bleach to
remove it. However when removing basement mold, make sure the basement is well
ventilated and wear gloves and a facemask. Breathing in basement mold is
unhealthy. |
Basement Mold
Prevention
The best way to prevent basement
mold is to make sure the basement stays dry and that there is sufficient
airflow in it. If your basement is frequently damp or wet, then address the
problem from the outside. Check that rain water drains away from the home, and
if necessary install a perimeter drain around the home’s foundation.
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In the event there is a leak in the
basement it is important to clean it up quickly and thoroughly dry the area
out.
Use a dehumidifier for most of the
year in the basement, particularly during hot, humid summer days. These types
of days are ideal for creating condensation on the plumbing pipes and A/C duct
work. If the condensation drips onto wood or paper products basement mold will
grow. To prevent condensation, insulate cold plumbing pipes and air condition
duct work.
Make sure clothes dryers and
basement bathrooms are vented to the outside.
Finally, use fans to circulate air
in the basement. Basement mold typically likes to grow in cool, moist, stagnant
air.
For more help on Finishing
Basements, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Basement Remodeling Bid sheet. The
Basement Remodeling Bid Sheet will help
ensure that your hire the right contractor so that your basement remodeling
project is done
correctly and you get the project finished on time and budget.
How to Finance your Basement Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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