How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Basement
Termite infestations, failing foundations, burst plumbing pipes — could there be anything worse than these messy, costly problems that are often irreparable? Basement mold is right up there with these very possible problems that bring Atlanta homeowners to their knees. Read below for our tips on how to get rid of black mold basement.
Basement Findings
It has an environment conducive for growing mold.
It’s a dark, damp space where homeowners typically find mold.
It’s the basement.
And the problem is common. Most basements suffer from higher levels of moisture. That’s because basements have lots of water sources (think plumbing pipes, the water heater, clothes washer) and get little ventilation and sunlight to deal with the moisture. Compounding the problem, homeowners generally don’t spend much time in their basements, so if mold is growing, you may not notice it until it’s too late
Hazardous Mold
Basement mold presents two primary, significant problems:
- When mold grows unchecked, it is insidious, feeding off materials homeowners commonly keep in their basements, such as cardboard boxes, stored clothing or paper, wood and so forth.
- Mold is hazardous to your health and can even be toxic. Exposure to mold can lead to allergy-type symptoms and asthma attacks.
The Environmental Protection Agency advises homeowners to get expert professional help with basement mold when mold growth is larger than 3 feet by 3 feet.
How to Handle Mold
If you discover mold growing in your basement basement or crawl space, and the area is less than 3 feet by 3 feet, you can follow the EPA’s guidelines for mold cleanup, which include
- Fixing any leaks and addressing sources of moisture
- Thoroughly drying all wet items
- Cleaning affected areas with water and detergent
- Discarding all items that are infected with mold
Once you’re sure that the area is dry, only then can you caulk, tile, paint or install carpet.
Prevention Tactics
Avoid dealing with mold problems — and the costs of cleaning it up — and invest some time and resources into preventing the problem. Here’s what you can do to to keep mold out of your basement:
- Always clean up water problems right away. Don’t let pools of water settle on the floor or wait to clean up a leaky pipe.
- Make sure your home’s gutters are directed away from the foundation.
- Every spring, inspect the ground directly beside the home’s foundation. Make sure it doesn’t slope toward the home. Otherwise, water will permeate through the foundation.
- Schedule an HVAC inspection annually for the air conditioner to ensure proper drainage and prevent mold in the drip pan and drain line.
- Keep the basement humidity level within a normal range, which is generally between 30 and 50 percent. If necessary, install a dehumidifier to remove moisture.
- Make sure basement systems vent to the outdoors, instead of releasing moisture into the space.
- If your cold water pipes commonly have condensation, you can install pipe insulation around them to prevent moisture infiltration.
Because of the hazardous nature of mold, it’s best to get expert advice when you discover mold in your home. For more information about dealing with mold or to have an expert check your HVAC system for mold, contact Reliable Heating & Air of Atlanta GA.