According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency the key to mold control is moisture control. Water leaks due to broken pipes or rain water getting into the basement of your home, if left unattended can lead to mold. If water if getting in the basement of your home, the foundation may be at risk. If the problem persists and it is not resolved, the costs associated with repairing or fixing the water leaks can escalate. Taking care of the problem as soon as you notice water in your basement can save your family money, and can give you a basement you can enjoy. For more information follow the links below.
On the Level: Just how serious is my mold problem?
We have a mold problem in our basement. The house is 12 years old but the basement is much older. We had the original house torn down to the foundation and then rebuilt. The next year we had the basement finished. Unfortunately I did not have the basement properly ventilated nor did I have a dehumidifier placed in the basement until about a year ago.
Our house sits at the bottom of a hill so when there is a lot or rain or a big snowstorm that melts we get water continuously flowing into the sump pit. A few years ago the sump pump did not work properly and we had a few inches of water on the basement floor that we vacuumed up. Also, last year our refrigerator leaked water into the basement that we did not realize for a few months.
So there have been a few instances where water in the basement coupled with inadequate ventilation has caused some mold to form on some ceiling tiles and on a few parts of the walls. I called a basement waterproofing company and their sales rep came by and indicated it would cost approximately $18,000 for all mold to be removed and a proper drainage system installed. He said that everything had to be taken out of the basement, the walls torn down etc.
Preventing mold growth in basement is a major undertaking
DEAR TIM: Our full-size divided basement has mold growing on the west side of the wall, as well as the south side on the other end of the basement. The basement has two sump pumps, one on each side of the basement. The basement does not leak water. We’ve scrubbed the mold away with bleach/water and painted the walls with Concrobium Mold Control. We leave the basement windows opened during dry warm periods to help with air circulation and at times will use two dehumidifiers, but to no avail. We even had the soil around our house re-graded, and that was a tremendous help but not enough to stop the mold completely from growing back. The basement can never be finished unless the mold is eliminated. What do you think the problem is, and how would you fix it? –Vic G., Delaware, Ohio
DEAR VIC: You and millions of other homeowners suffer from mold growth in basements, crawlspaces, closets, attics, bathrooms, exterior surfaces and so on. It’s an unending battle. The good news is mold can be prevented, once you understand how it grows.
