The old saying, “out of sight out of mind” is unfortunately true for many homeowners when it comes to their basement. If your basement is unfinished or just not a comfortable place to be, you probably don’t go down there very often. As a result, there may be issues cropping up down there that you aren’t aware of. The best way to prevent expensive problems in your basement is to do some regular maintenance. Here are some basement maintenance and repair tips that will help you manage potential issues.
Basement Maintenance and Repairs You Probably Need
Check for signs of foundation cracks
Foundations crack when the soil under your home settles due to water or freezing and then thawing. You may not know when the foundation is cracking since you can’t see it, but you can look for signs. If you notice cracks in the walls of your basement, then you need to get your foundation checked. The walls crack because the base is now uneven.
If doors that used to close now get jammed then that is another sign of foundation issues. Windows that don’t align enough to shut or lock anymore is another sign. However, if you have trouble shutting your doors and windows it may be due to increased or decreased humidity making the wood in your home swell or shrink. Check your basement regularly so you can know the trends when the season changes. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, get your foundation checked.
Eliminate dampness
A musty odor, visible condensation or increased humidity in your basement is a sign that you have too much moisture down there. Moisture in your basement leads to mold and rotting wood which can be really expensive to fix if you let it get out of hand. Install a dehumidifier to pull extra moisture out of the air. If you think you have moisture coming up from the ground, you may need to install a sump pump. Consider adding a vapor barrier to prevent future moisture problems.
Look for leaks
You may not realize if you have a plumbing leak, but, thanks to gravity, all water will flow down to the basement. Check your basement walls for flaking or peeling paint. This is a sign of a leak behind the walls. If you notice any discolored spots on the ceiling or walls of your basement, this is also a possible sign of leaks. You definitely want to find the source of leaks quickly so that your floors and walls do not rot.
If you think you may have issues with your basement, contact our office today. We help to clean up and repair damage due to mold. If you find that you had an unnoticed plumbing leak that has damaged your home, we can also help you with that as well. The best way to protect your home is to do regular maintenance and take preventative measures.
Mildew is a distinct type of mold. It commonly grows along baseboards, inside cabinets and even on the ceiling. Anywhere that moisture gathers is a breeding ground for mildew. You will probably notice a musty, damp odor around mildew. It is usually yellow or white and looks powdery. A little mildew isn’t necessarily dangerous but it can aggravate allergies and can eventually damage the surface that it grows on.
What To Do About Mildew: Remove and Prevent
Health issues with mildew
Inhaling mildew spores can cause headaches, sore throat, coughing, and respiratory problems. They can also aggravate allergy symptoms. If you feel like your allergies get worse after being in a certain part of your home, there may be mildew in that room that you haven’t seen yet.
How do I get rid of mildew?
Getting rid of mildew is pretty easy, simply wipe off surfaces with a damp rag. Diluted bleach is great to clean with since it kills mildew and bacteria. The bleach can also help get rid of any discoloration. Be careful to test your cleaning solution on a small spot to make sure it won’t do any damage to the surface the mildew is growing on.
How can I prevent mildew?
Prevent mildew by increasing ventilation in the room. If you have mildew in your bathroom, be sure to use your ventilation fan every time you take a shower so that moisture doesn’t condensate on the walls and ceiling. You can use a fan to increase air circulation if you don’t have a ventilation fan. Turn on your air conditioner in the summer to draw humidity out of the air. Keeping your home at 40 to 50 percent humidity will prevent most mildew from growing. The last thing you want to do is give mildew a warm, humid place to live. Use a dehumidifier in your basement or crawlspace to draw moisture out of the air in those naturally humid places.
If you have had water damage in your home you are almost guaranteed to have a mold or mildew issue. Even if you don’t see any mildew, if you notice that your family is struggling with allergies or asthma you need to have your home checked. At Restoration Certified Specialists, we are equipped and experienced in dealing with all levels of mold and mildew issues. If the mildew problem is extensive or hard to get to or you are afraid to deal with it because of allergies, contact us. It is much better to be safe than to have health problems due to mildew.
When is the last time you looked around in the crawlspace under your house? Crawl spaces are notoriously damp, uncomfortable places so most homeowners tend to avoid them. The main people that venture into crawl spaces are home service specialists like HVAC technicians, plumbers and electricians who may or may not tell the homeowner about any issues they see under there. Unfortunately, there are actually a lot of home issues that can be prevented by properly maintaining your crawlspace. At Restoration Certification Services, we want to help you prevent the damage to your home and your family’s health that can come from a poorly maintained crawl space.
Maintaining a Crawl Space: Unseen but Important
Here are the problems you face if your home has a crawlspace:
Moisture In Your Crawl Space
Moisture is the most common issue in crawl spaces and leads to mold and wood rot. If you haven’t made any improvements to address moisture (like a moisture barrier, dehumidifier or sump pump), then you are probably going to have a moisture issue. The nature of a crawlspace being dark with little ventilation almost guarantees that you will have to do something to combat moisture. If left unchecked, moisture will rot your floor joists and supports and eventually your floor will have to be replaced. Moisture and mold can also rise up through your floor and into your living areas triggering allergies and breathing problems.
Pests in Your Crawl Space
Rats, insects and larger animals can get into your crawl space and leave droppings and/or damage duct work. It is really important to thoroughly check all possible entrance points to keep pests out of your crawlspace. As mentioned before, since most homeowners don’t go in their crawlspace often, it is possible for pests to do a lot of damage before they are noticed.
Your Crawl Space's Insulation
Poor or no insulation in your crawl space means that you will spend more money on heating and cooling your home. It also means that mold can easily travel through the floor and into your living space. Getting your crawl space insulated will lower your power bills and extend the life of your floors.
You need to get your crawl space checked out. Our team at Restoration Certified Specialists is experienced, and we are dedicated to both making your home safe and saving you money. We offer full crawl space services from cleaning to installing protective measures. Contact us for more information.
Your landscaping could be damaging your home. Does your basement keep flooding? It may be because of your lawn.
Is Your Landscaping Damaging Your Home?
Water, Water, In Our Yards, and Not a Drop In Our Basements
Rain water has to go somewhere, always. Properly graded and landscaped yards direct this water to desired locations while improperly graded and landscaped yards could allow water to collect in the basement or foundation of your home.Water flows downhill. You want to ensure that your landscaping slopes so that water goes away from your home and certainly doesn’t pond around the home.
Landscaping Plants Helping or Hurting Your Home
Flowers, shrubs, and trees can be important players in the moisture level of your yard and, indirectly, your home. If your yard tends to retain a lot of water, thirstier plants can help manage this. On the other hand, too thirsty plants like certain trees growing close to your home, can make the soil too dry and lead to an unstable surface for your home’s foundation.
What To Do If Your Landscaping Is Damaging Your Home
Make sure your downspouts drain away from the home. Most downspouts have a protector underneath to lessen the impact directly under the spout and prevent ponding, but you can further protect your home by landscaping around the downspout to channel the water say 10 feet away.Consider any gardens up next to your home. Could they be sloped away from the home? Are they retaining too much water? Consider trees and plants next to the home. You might add or replace plants to optimize the moisture level of the soil around your home.A bad enough water drainage problem may require professional grading. This is the process of adding, removing, and/or shaping the ground under or around a building. Ensure that your yard slopes downward 10 feet away from your home.
