Top 5 Basement Problems Caused by Melting Snow

Dust Mites 

Dust Mites are tiny parasites that are invisible to the naked eye and love damp areas because they absorb water through the air. Their droppings are even smaller and float in the air moving throughout the entire house. How gross is that? These droppings are the number one thing people with allergies and asthma react to indoors.  When water enters in your basement it raises the humidity. When the humidity is around 50% dust mites thrive. However when the humidity drops below 50% they dry up and die. So what's the best way to get rid of these abominable pests? Well... dry up your basement of course!  

Mold 

Similar to dust mites mold is right at home in wet basements. Mold is the evil genius of basement destruction. This is because mold knows exactly what it wants. If it's organic, dead and wet, mold knows how to eat it - such as the wood on your floor or drywall. Mold sends out its spores on air currents and can lay dormant for many years. Since mold spores can be everywhere and the contents of your home are made from organic material there is only one way to fight back. Moisture control. Most mold needs around 70% humidity to thrive, so keeping your basement or crawl space dry and the humidity below 50% should stop any mold from growing or spreading. 

Increased Energy Bills 

So when water in your basement or crawl space increases the humidity the air becomes damp and sticky. Did you know that damp air uses more energy to heat and cool? The air on the first floor of your home consists of about 50% of the air from your basement. Basement air rises to upper levels of your home and eventually escapes. The low pressure in your basement draws in new air and the process repeats itself. This is called the stack effect. So your home is using more energy to heat and cool every level with the damp dank air from your basement or crawl space therefor raising your energy costs. So even if you don't mind breathing in your musty basement air, you could still be spending more on energy than you need to. Thus making a dry basement a worthy investment. 

Paint Damage to Your Home 

Another way in which humidity can harm your home is paint damage. When moisture and humidity levels increase, the paint on your walls can begin to chip and peel. Due to the stack effect chipping or peeling paint isn't restricted to your basement but can affect the walls on every floor. Moisture control again is the knight in shining armor that can protect the walls in your home from the problems that come with a wet basement.  

Buckling Floors 

Another one of the many ways a wet basement can cause you a headache is buckling floors. When humidity increases wood absorbs moisture and will expand. When humidity decreases the moisture will escape the wood causing it contrast. With expanding and contrasting wood your floors can start to buckle and shift. This not only damages wood floors but can also be a safety hazard. Floor replacements can be quite costly and should altogether be avoided. A great way to ensure you don't have to deal with buckling wood floors is having a dry, moisture controlled basement!