Depending on where you live in the US, your home may or may not have a basement. This below ground area under homes is very convenient for storage and as a place to work on things or do laundry. It can also be finished into a beautiful extension of the home, often having a home theater or rec room.
Basements are more common in the Northern portions of the United States. We have been in thousands of basements in Northeast Ohio and have seen some great ones, as well as some that are very dangerous to the people living in the home. If you are in an older home, or even a newer home that might have leaks or dampness, then you could be exposed to risks and dangers in your basement that can be fixed. Here are some of the common issues.
Rotting Beams – When you have moisture in your basement, it can lead to warping of wood beams and walls. It can even lead to rotting wood over time if the wood is getting damp enough. While in the short term this is not an issue, over a longer period of time, it can cause significant danger to the structure of the home.
Black Mold – Any mold and mildew is not pleasant and can damage your belongings. Black mold is actually toxic to humans and is dangerous for a family living in a home with it. Sometimes it is out in the open, and other times it can be behind walls or in ceilings when things are damp. If you are not sure about mold or mildew, call a specialist to take a look. Basement waterproofing companies can assess the risk but they might not be experts on different types of risks. Always work with someone who has a lot of experience.
Insects – Insects attract other insects. Keeping your basement dry and clean will minimize the insects in your home. The last thing you want is carpenter ants eating your support beams or brown recluse spiders nesting in your walls. Reducing these risks begins with reducing the moisture and food sources for these pests, and call an exterminator if you see insects in any significant number.
Flooding – If your basement floods, there are all kinds of dangers. You can have electrical shorts. You can have damage to walls and belongings. You can have moisture that will keep things damp, making rot, softness, insects and mold all more common. The best way to not have this kind of issue it to take care of small leads before they cause a floor.
Foundation Collapsing – Bowing basement walls is a major danger. At any time, a wall that is bowing or damaged can simply collapse. Since the basement walls support the house, this puts the whole house at risk and is dangerous to be around for anyone. If you have bowing basement walls, call a basement waterproofing company that also does foundation repair right away.
Pioneer Basement Solutions is a NE Ohio basement waterproofing company with over 40 years of experience waterproofing basements and repairing home foundations. If you have any water or foundation problems with your Ohio basement, give us a call today and we will get it inspected.
