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CONTROLLING MOISTURE IN YOUR BASEMENT
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Look Before You Leap
Imagine spending thousands of dollars on an expensive media system
only to come home to find your speakers ruined by leaks or moisture.
While you may not know it by looking, by far the most common problem
basements face is moisture control. Basement or concrete slabs absorb
moisture from the ground via capillary action. In fact, some home
renovation experts estimate that a basement can absorb up to 18 gallons
of moisture each day—that’s more than both your kitchen
and bathrooms combined! Add to that the fact that basement pipes
can leak without your even knowing about it, and this added moisture
can have devastating effects like:
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Peeling paint and wall-paper warping; |
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Structural deterioration, which can
mean expensive renovations; |
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Cracked walls, which need to be re-plastered
and repainted; |
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Rust on furnaces and water heaters,
which can hamper the appliances’ effectiveness or pose
a safety hazard for children; |
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Dry rot caused by molds and mildew; |
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Mold and mildew grows in damp and dark
areas. They can cause discoloration to walls, furniture and
ceiling and can leave a musty odor. Air-borne molds can also
worsen allergies and asthma conditions, especially in young
children and the elderly. |
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Dust mites and bacteria can also thrive
in these damp conditions, further aggravating allergies and
creating an unhealthy environment. |
Left unchecked, mold, mildew, dust mites and bacteria can quickly
devastate not just your basement, but also the rest of your home.
Why? Once air-borne, contaminants can quickly circulate through the
entire house via your heating and air-conditioning system.
Plus, any structural damage or dry rot can mean major and costly
renovations that could easily be prevented. That’s why reducing
moisture and humidity in your basement are the most important steps
in any basement renovation or update.
This may mean adding venting or using a waterproof concrete sealer
beneath any flooring. It may also mean adding more insulation. (The
ground remains cool year-round, which means basement walls are cooler.
When the warm air comes into contact with these cooler walls, condensation
can form, adding moisture.)
Another solution is to add electric floor heating. Floor heat reduces
the humidity of concrete slabs and can be easily installed during
floor remodeling.
Finally, if you budget is limited, simple dehumidifiers and air-purifiers
can go a long way toward reducing basement moisture.
Don’t let your expensive equipment become damaged by moisture.
Call us now for an at home consultation to gauge your moisture situation
and let us stop problems before they start.
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