Why keep my basement dry, like who cares???

Why keep your basement dry? You’re a first time home buyer and you’ve never had a basement of your own. All your aunts and uncles and your mom and dad are telling you “keep your basement dry!” But why? And how?

Moisture in the air is heavier than the air around it and will naturally seek the the lowest elevation. Mold, mildew are one side of the equation and well talk about those first. Mold and mildew are unpleasant organic matter that crave and thrive damp dark environments. They also love things to eat. Namely the wood and other organic material in your basement. Leave them to their own devices for long enough and you will have every surface in your basement covered in a thick black mold that is near impossible to get rid of. Black mold is fungus that can have potentially life threatening effects, Aside from ruining your investment. It can live inside wood and other organic material for years until it is given the right conditions to thrive.

This is an image of a basement that has water damage issues.

Moisture poses its own risk to your basement as well. Letting things get damp and then cold is a sure fire way to damage stone, brick and mortar threatening the very foundation your house is built on. Stone, brick and mortar do not like to move. The more they stay still the more solid they are. Expanding and contracting due to frost and moisture differentials destroy your stone brick and mortar from the inside.

So How do we stop these things from happening? Easy. You just need two things. An adequately sized de-humidifier, and a fan maybe two of them. Et the air flowing and get the air dry. If those two things are done mold and mildew wont have a proper place to procreate and your mortar joints will stay safe from harmful moisture differentials. If you don’t know if your basement meets or exceeds industry standards, call us up! We’ll come have a look-see!