The Environmental Protection Agency reports that mold grows when mold spores land on wet surfaces. Though it is impossible to get rid of all mold that is constantly floating through the air in house dust, it will not grow if moisture is not present and is not as dangerous to a person’s health in dust form.

Mold can begin to grow in a building that has a leak problem, through condensation on windows, or as the result of a flood. Mold can also grow on drywall that has become wet from a basement flood. Other organic materials such as wood can grow mold over time in a damp place like a basement, so it is important to eliminate water problems in your home permanently or the mold will continue to come back over time. If you find moisture in your home, dry it immediately. Basement waterproofing is a good way to keep moisture out of your house.

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A “stack effect” exchange of air occurs in your home. This means that new air replaces the warm air that rises and escapes out of the upper levels by a process of suction. Air from your basement is drawn up into the first floor, then to the second. Scientists say that up to 50% of the air you breathe on the first floor comes from the basement.

This means that whatever is in your basement air – this includes mold, rot, dust mites – you and your family are breathing it. The damp odors in your basement will rise up into the 1st floor and so on.

Effects of a Wet or Damp Basement:

• Dust Mites
• Sticking doors and windows
• Smelly damp carpets
• Buckling hardwood floors
• Condensation/rotting/mold in attic
• Frost or condensation and mold on inside of windows in cool weather
• Increased cooling bills (damp air takes more energy to cool)
• Increased heating bills (damp air takes more energy to heat)
• Mold upstairs
• Decreased life of roof or sheathing and shingles
• Decreased life of the paint on the outside of your house
• Aggravated asthma and allergies

#1 Home Allergen: Dust mite droppings floating in the air. Dust mites are parasites that live in your carpeting, bedding, and furniture. Dust mites absorb water out of the air, so with high humidity levels (especially in the basement) they thrive. If humidity levels drop below 50%, they will dry up and die, but leave their larvae behind to hatch when it gets damp again. Combat this dangerous life cycle by keeping your basement at a humidity level under 50% with a quality dehumidifier. For more information on the dangers of toxins in your basement, read this article: Is Your Basement Toxic to Your Health?.

To protect the innocent, we’ve changed the names of the folks in our story:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s basement flooded once. They cleaned the gutters just like their cousin told them to. After all, he was a builder and he knew about these things. The couple didn’t see any more water in their basement for a good six months. They soon forgot about the incident and put all of their stuff back down in the basement on the floor. There were holiday decorations, tax records, a record album collection, personal effects – even Mrs. Smith’s preserved wedding dress – in a cardboard box like most of the other items. Beginning one otherwise peaceful evening, the sky opened up, as it does once every year or two, and two months worth of rain fell in two days. All of the Smith’s belongings were lost in the flood that resulted in the unprotected basement.

It doesn’t have to be a severe flood to experience the effects of water damage. Mold thrives on organic material so if you’ve got a high relative humidity or seepage, all of those personal items stored in boxes in the basement run the risk of being ruined. At the first sign of a problem it is important to begin the fixing process. Basement leaks do not get better, they worsen with time.

Fixing the gutters and downspouts is the first step, but not the permanent fix. For moisture, a quality dehumidifier will help alleviate mold and musty odors. SaniDry basement dehumidifier will do the trick, it’s like a dehumidifier on steroids! For foot and wall joint leaks or even floor seepage, a custom interior basement waterproofing system will solve the issue. WaterGuard, a patented system, is designed to accept wall, floor, and foot and wall joint leaks without getting clogged with dirt and debris. This is a much better solution than excavating the exterior and installing a new footing drain that will eventually clog up again. Paints or sealants are only a temporary solution and eventually the water will push through.

At the first sign of water in your basement, call a system design specialist so that you can avoid the mess the Smiths had to deal with.