How to Beat Mold in the Basement This Spring

mold in the basement

Get Rid of Any Mold in the Basement

The key to mold control is simply moisture control. In other words, the best way to beat mold in the basement is to prevent it in the first place. 

If you are spring cleaning and find mold, you need to remove it and fix the water issue. Whether it is a leaky faucet or high humidity levels in your home, you won’t have mold without a moisture issue. If you clean up the mold and fail to fix the water issue, then you haven’t really fixed the problem. The mold will come back!

Moisture is the perfect breeding ground for mold

Mold comes in many colors, as well as white and black. There are hundreds of types of mold however they all have one thing in common: they all need moisture and oxygen to grow. Mold is an important part of the natural environment. Outside in nature, mold breaks down dead organic material like dead tree and fallen leaves and aids in the decomposition process. Mold produces tiny spores when it grows and reproduces. These mold spores float through the air. Mold can begin to grow inside when these spores make it indoors. A mold colony can start to grow in your home if there is water, oxygen and an organic food source. Organic food sources are easy to come by in your home. Mold uses wood like the framing in your house, carpet, and sheetrock. 

Eliminate moisture in your home

Because mold is a natural occurrence mold spores are in our environment. It is impossible to keep mold spores out of the air in your home completely. That is why the best way to control mold is to control the moisture. We obviously can’t eliminate air or the presence of mold spores, therefore the only element we can control and eliminate is moisture. Control the water problem and keep your relative humidity level at 50% and you will be able to control your mold issues.

Call a contractor or professional mold remediation specialist

It is important to understand if you have a mold problem: DO NOT WAIT. Remember, mold is decomposing agent in nature. It will eat away whatever it starts growing on and the longer you wait the more damage it will cause. According to the EPA, the rule of thumb is if the moldy area is less than 3 feet by 3 feet than you can handle the clean up yourself. However, if there is a lot of water damage or the mold growth covers a larger area, you need to consider the health risks of removing such a large area of mold. You may want to consider hiring a contractor or professional mold remediation specialist to do the cleanup for you. They will have the right respiratory gear and mold removal products to safety remove the mold. If you suspect the HVAC system is contaminated with mold it could spread throughout the whole building. It is important to consult a specialist to have the mold removed.

Ultimately, when you have a mold problem, deal with the mold issue and the source of the water issue. Remember, if you have a mold problem, you will always have a moisture problem as its partner. Don’t forget to find the moisture problem and fix it. If your mold issue is in the basement, a basement waterproofing contractor can help.