Reasons for Your Wet Basement and What Can Be Done to Dry It Out

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When you live in a humid location, more areas than just your basement are prone to water damage. In fact, water in your basement could be the least of your problems. Your basement is easy to access, so you're more likely to identify and address water leaks and floods before they cause permanent damage. Areas like your crawl space, however, are another story entirely.

Unless you have waterproof crawl spaces, these areas could be just as likely as basements to develop water damage, which in turn leads to a host of problems. Because your crawl spaces are much harder to access than your basement, you might not know that you have a water leak until the mold has already spread - endangering your health, happiness and home.

Here's why mold is a dangerous health hazard and some tips on keeping mold out of your crawl spaces for good.

Why Is Mold a Problem?

Not all types of mold are hazardous to your health. In fact, some types of mold are absolutely beneficial, whether you consume mold in the form of penicillin to treat an infection or frequently feast on delicious varieties of bleu cheese. However, mold growing inside your home is obnoxious at best and dangerous at worst.

As a type of fungi, mold flourishes in dark, damp spaces - meaning that your crawl space is the perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold eats away at materials used to build your crawl space, working with the water to damage your crawl space beyond easy repair. Mold also releases a musty smell, making your home a much less pleasant place in which to spend your time.

Most importantly, mold releases spores. Because your home's air circulates through the crawl space, the mold spores are quick to seep into your living space. Along with spreading themselves to other damp, dark areas of your home, like the corners of your bathroom, mold spores get inside your lungs when you breathe.

If you or your family members have lung issues like asthma, allergies, pleurisy or pneumonia, mold could trigger a flare-up. Even if you aren't prone to lung problems, mold can cause symptoms like sneezing, watery eyes and difficulty breathing. In a worst-case scenario, toxic mold could lead to a trip to the ER.

How Can You Keep Mold Out of Your Crawl Space?

As you can see, mold causes huge problems once it gets inside your crawl space. Luckily, it's not hard to keep mold from getting inside your crawl space in the first place. Follow these guidelines to keep your crawl spaces warm, dry and mold-free.

Water Redirection

Does water run towards your house rather than away from it? If so, you likely experience standing water in the basement after a storm, or even after watering the lawn.

If you have standing water in your basement, you could also have standing water in your crawl space, so don't forget to check the crawl space for moisture whenever you notice basement issues. Then, work with a contractor to direct the water away from your foundation.

Crawl Space Liners

Crawl space liners are waterproof linings that keep moisture away from the organic material your crawl space is made from. Good liners also ensure a healthy airflow inside your crawl space to allow moisture, unpleasant odors and potentially dangerous gases to escape.

Sump Pumps

Waterproofing with a crawl space liner should eliminate problems like standing water from your crawl space. However, if you experience constant leaking into the crawl space, consider adding an emergency measure like a sump pump to move pooled water out of the crawl space.

At Cardinal Foundation & Waterproofing Inc., we're experienced in waterproofing not only basements but also crawl spaces. If you're experiencing wet crawl spaces and mold issues, get in touch  with us today.

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