How to - prevent basement mold

alain33

"2. Use a Dehumidifier
If you detect high moisture levels in the basement, invest in a good quality dehumidifier. This appliance is quite effective in keeping humidity levels under check.
Dehumidifiers come in different sizes and price range. Research what is best for your particular situation."

I just use Dehumidifier, it works find for me. Thanks for your other ways. good!

Maintenance 6

It certainly could. It depends on what the realative humidity levels are in the basement. Adding more humidity to a basement that already has a fairly high RH could easily drive it into the danger zone for mold. Whether it is cool or warm mist really only affects the absorption time for the vapor. Water vapor that is warmed will absorb into the air faster than cool. How long it takes for that vapor to condense out of the air onto a cool surface that is below dew point won't change. Dew point is determined by the relative humidity and air temperature. Once relative humidity reaches 100% for a given air temperature (saturation point), the moisture will condense out of the air. It will rain in your basement. By then, you will have gone past the minimum level that mold needs to thrive.

jsmith48

thanks for the info, a lot of my neighbors have older houses in the town i live in. they always struggle with the mold down there.

federer

what do you suggest for basement insulation?

DocWard

My house sits on a sloped lot, with the north wall of the basement being completely below grade, below my garage floor, and my south wall being nearly entirely above grade, with full size windows. Since an external barrier and membrane aren't really an option, what suggestions are there for preventing moisture and mold from the inside?

I have some issues with mold, and moisture is a definite problem. I have the fiberglass "diaper" going around the upper half of all but the south wall, where it covers the entire wall.

AGWhitehouse

http://www.buildingscience.com/docum...ion-assemblies

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AGWhitehouse

People have used drain boards along the interior foundation face and tied it into a perimeter drain tile beneath the floor. This gives a channel for any incoming moisture to escape into the drainage system.

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DocWard

Our basement has a channel around the perimeter, between the edge of the slab and the wall. I have heard this referred to as a "floating" slab, but I am not sure that is the actual term. I would have to check, since it has been awhile since I looked, but I believe there is a drain there in one corner.

That being the case, what are my options? Do I then go ahead and put up a vapor barrier, or what should I do?

AGWhitehouse

You would need to take up the perimeter of your slab and install a system that looks like this: http://www.terrafirmalandscape.net/p...nt_2_lg_fs.jpg

The pipe is encased in filter fabric and drains either to daylight or a sump pit. The black piece is the drainage board. Notice the egg-crate like dimples that create a channel for water flow. This board should extend up the face of the wall. Then you can place rigid insulation board over the drainage board and then frame out a wall from there.

I will say that this is not the ideal solution. Excessive water migration through your foundation walls will not help its integrity over it's life span. Excessive water should really be treated at the exterior, site unwilling or not....

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DocWard

I appreciate the answer, but I guess it still leaves me scratching my head about what to do with the walls short of digging away under my garage, which means getting rid of a big chunk of my driveway and moving my central air, along with the necessary bracing to keep it from falling in and making it safe to work under, then putting up a barrier on the outside of the wall. Sounds like it would cost nearly as much as the house cost to build.

AGWhitehouse

Curtain drains that are away from the structure can serve to re-direct the mass water flows around the structure. That would alleviate a great deal of hydraulic pressure from the foundation and would not require excavation directly against the structure.

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DocWard

I should mention that I am not planning on finishing my basement beyond a minimal amount. My plan is to leave it "rustic" but usable for things such as a workout area and hobby area. I would like to put in a mold resistant drop ceiling, and perhaps some sort of inexpensive flooring, such as matting that can be taken up / replaced if necessary. The most important things for me are lack of mold / mildew, moisture, and better lighting.

Atticus

Thanks for this guide. Genuinely guilty for doing some of these things... genuinely stupid of me not realizing too.

DocWard

Well, I do have some good news. As I was cleaning my basement, I found two paperback books in the trench between my basement wall and floor. They had become soaked and swollen, and I think they were acting as dams, allowing the basement to flood. Since I have removed them, we have had substantial rains, and while the walls themselves get wet, there is no dampness on the floor.

As for the walls, I think that I need to re-grade come spring, because I am seeing moisture in areas very close to where my walls are above grade. I looked, and the slope that was once away from the house is no longer that way. Hopefully dryer walls will mean less mold. I am working hard to keep things clean as well, and either moving, sealing, or eliminating those things that mold dines on.

metal

Mold loves moisture. Keep everything as dry as you can by running fans and making sure you have no leaks. Mold can be a lot more dangerous than people give it credit.