28 Mar Tips & Tricks for Preventing Basement and Crawlspace Mold
Two of the most prevalent areas for mold growth in a home are the crawl spaces and basements. Many people don’t spend much time in basements and very few, if any, ever go into crawlspaces. These areas are susceptible to mold, such as attic mold. However, they are rarely discovered until the problem has grown to a large extent.
Don’t be afraid! These tips and tricks will help you to deal with any mold issues you might have in your crawlspace or basement. They will also help prevent future problems.
Mold in Basements and Crawlspaces
Basements
Let’s start with basements. Basement mold is common for three reasons:
Foundation cracks are leading
Concrete foundations can begin to crack after about 20-30 year of age. This leads to water penetration. Mold requires water to germinate.
Moldy concrete can be caused by condensation and humidity
Basements are often surrounded by cold walls, especially in winter. Condensation and mold growth can occur when warm, heated indoor air is combined with cold walls. This is most common around concrete foundation walls and in windows in winter.
Basement flooding and mold remediation
Sump pump failures are responsible for more basement flooding than you might think. A non-functioning sump can cause damage that costs you thousands of dollars, whether it is an old pump that stops working or a power outage in a storm.
Crawl spaces
High humidity and moisture are the main causes of mold growth in crawl spaces. The crawlspace is located underneath your home, right on top. While many crawl spaces are equipped with a vapor barrier made of plastic, others don’t. The soil and dirt of the earth are rich in moisture.
Moisture is one requirement for mold growth. The other is a food source like the ceiling made of wood. Because moisture forms easily in small areas, dirt crawl spaces can be fertile breeding ground for mold.
Mold remediation in Basements and Crawl Spaces
Basement Foundation Cracks and Mold Removal
A crack in your foundation can lead to a small leak along your basement’s perimeter wall. This will eventually become larger and dampen the interior drywall. This will lead to moldy walls.
A crack in your foundation can be fixed by removing the walls and sealing it with certified Long Beach mold remediation professionals.
Attention DIY-ers: Basement condensation issues can lead to mold growth
This mold type is commonly found on painted concrete walls. This mold removal can be performed by the handy homeowner since there is usually no need to remove drywall.
Long Beach Mold Remediation specialists recommend that you purchase two types of cleaning agent from your local hardware store.
- One that kills mold, such as Concrobium Moldova Control.
- This cleaner is used to remove any staining caused by mold, such as Clorox Cleanup.
These chemicals can be very powerful so make sure you wear gloves and a mask. Hire a professional mold remediation expert if you aren’t comfortable doing it. If you are unsure if you can do this yourself, then read more about if you need to hire someone.
Reduce Mold from a Flooded Basement
If your sump pump stops working and you have a flood in your basement, it is important to contact a professional water damage company within 24 hours. They will be able to quickly dry the basement using their equipment. Also, get rid of the mold as soon as it can. If the property is not dry enough, the wet drywall must be removed and costly mold remediation and rebuild work will be required.
Although homeowners may be covered by homeowner’s insurance for water damage, I guarantee you that most homeowners won’t want to. It can be a huge headache to manage the construction and fight with the insurance company.
Crawlspace Mold Removal
It is often difficult to remove mold from crawl spaces. Although there is no need to demo, it does require HEPA vacuuming, spraying, and scrubbing the wood in very small spaces. It’s not fun!
Prevention of Mold in Basements and Crawl Spaces
Basement Foundation Cracks: How to Prevent Mold
You can’t prevent foundation cracks from happening as your home ages. You can reduce the damage by inspecting the exterior of your home and making sure there aren’t any water pools. Also, make sure your gutters drain at least six feet from your house.
Prevention of Mold from Basement Condensation Problems
You can prevent mold growth from your basement due to moisture or condensation by using one of two methods.
Use anti-mildew paint to protect your basement
You can re-paint concrete foundations that are experiencing mold growth using an anti fungal paint like KILZ (there’s many).
These paints claim that they will not allow mold growth to form on the paint’s surface. They don’t always work though, according to my experience.
To prevent condensation, you can insulate your foundation
Insulating your concrete foundation walls is the second option. You have many options. Spray-foam or Styrofoam are all possible. Insulated walls will prevent the temperature difference that can cause condensation and mold growth.
Basement Sump Pump Failure: How to Prevent Mold
Sump pumps are essential for your home. Make sure you get the best sump pump system possible and install a backup battery system.
Many homeowners don’t know the purpose of their sump pump or how it works. This is why quality sump systems are so important.
What is a sump system and how can it prevent flooding?
Sump systems are basically drainage systems. Your sump well is connected to your home’s foundation by drain pipes. These pipes stop groundwater from getting through cracks in your foundation. Your sump pump then “ejects” the water from the well to the outside. Your basement floods when your sump pump fails. It’s amazing how quickly your basement can flood.
Sump pumps are essential to stop flooding.
A broken sump pump or a power outage, such as in a storm, can cause a malfunctioning sump pump. We recommend that you purchase the best sump pump money can buy.
Don’t cut corners on your sump pumps, we promise. A broken sump pump could cause thousands of dollars of damage and create a huge headache. It is not worth saving $100. A battery backup system is also recommended. These systems are costly, but well worth the investment.
It is not about if, but if the power goes down due to a storm. Do not lose sleep over a power cut. Get the backup battery and keep your basement clean and free of mold.