Mold can grow on any organic material, including common building materials like wood, drywall, and insulation
If you suffer from a headache, stuffy nose, or some type of allergic reaction when at home, but is relieved shortly after leaving the building, it’s possible that these symptoms are caused or worsened by indoor air pollutants and allergens such as mold spores. Basement and crawl spaces are prone to moisture issues that could be behind your mold problem and health issues.
Continue reading about the common causes of mold in the home or contact us today to schedule an on-site evaluation and repair estimate in Ohio.
Allergens come from mold spores in the basement and crawl space, and house mold loves to grow on drywall
Unfortunately, even you have mold only in the basement or crawl space, its spores will rise throughout the home. The reason for this is called the “Stack Effect”. The stack effect is what causes warm air to rise in the home and exit through the upper levels and attic. As this happens, a vacuum is created on the lower levels which draws air upwards from the basement and crawl space. Anything in that air – including mold spores, humidity, dust mites, and odors – will be drawn into the main area of the home, which obviously is where you breathe.
Cleaning and removing crawl space and basement mold with bleach or biocides is only a temporary solution. Mold remediation of this type can eliminate mold in the short term, but unless the reason that it was there in the first place is not eliminated, there’s nothing stopping house mold from returning. To worsen the situation, dead mold can still cause allergic reactions as well, and microscopic mold spores that were not removed can lay dormant for years while they wait for the opportunity to grow. Additionally, while mold resistant coatings may keep mold off the surfaces they contact, mold will still have a surface to grow on unless you can also coat your ventilation ducts and every piece of organic material that enters the house.
Mold will grow anywhere where it can find moisture, warmth and food, and mold will grow on anything organic in the basement
The easiest way to prevent household mold, is to reduce indoor humidity within the home to below 60%. Other important steps include removing all sources of water leakage within the home, sealing penetrations in walls and floors, checking for moldy odors, and removing all sources of freestanding water.
Ohio Basement Systems offers solutions to help eliminate basement mold and moisture. From sump pumps, drainage systems to vapor barriers and dehumidifiers, we can install the basement or crawl space solutions you need to keep humidity levels under control.
Additionally, our dehumidifier is capable of filtering the air of particles as small as two microns! This means that house mold spores, dust mite waste, pollen, and many other home environment allergens will be safely removed from the air. With its self-draining system, the Energy Star rated dehumidifier is able to pull moisture from the air and lower the relative humidity below 55%. These low humidity levels create an environment that is not suitable for house mold and dust mites to thrive. Thus, the area is cleaner, healthier and more sanitary for your entire house!
Contact Ohio Basement Systems today to get a free estimate on waterproofing and mold solutions for your home in Cleveland, Akron, Strongsville or the surrounding area in Ohio.
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