Published by Programme B
Did you know that your basement can make you sick? Read ahead to see what basement problems could be affecting your health, along with tips on what you can do to fix them.
- Mould and Mildew
A damp basement can be a huge health hazard. The moist environment encourages mould and mildew growth, which can hurt your indoor air quality — this is especially true if you have respiratory issues like asthma.
You need to address the moisture levels in your basement so that you can avoid this situation entirely. How can you do that? Call up a company like NTL Contracting and see what waterproofing services you should get to make your basement safe and water-tight. Services like adding vapor barriers, installing a sump pump, and grading your yard could dramatically reduce the moisture levels indoors.
Waterproofing can stop the lowest level of your house from becoming a haven for mold and mildew. It can also prevent other problems caused by too much moisture, like water stains, rusting, peeling paint, wood rot, pest infestation, and much more.
What should you do before getting waterproofing services? You should clean up the mold and mildew, and get a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the area. If the fungus is everywhere, you should call professionals to tackle the job.
2. Carbon Monoxide
If you have a fuel-fired furnace, you need to be concerned about carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that your furnace can expel. If it spreads into the house, you could suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning — and in high concentrations, the exposure could be fatal.
What can you do? Make sure that you have carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home — especially in the basement. Check if they have batteries and are working properly. You should also have your furnace inspected every year to make sure that it’s not putting your health at risk.
3. Dryer Ventilation
Is your dryer blowing air right back into your basement? That’s a big problem. Not only does that blow moisture from wet clothing back into your basement (again, a big cause of mold and mildew), but it also pushes dust and chemicals from detergents into the air. You don’t want to breathe that in.
Make sure that the appliance’s vent pipe is leading outdoors. Don’t use a dryer heat diverter — this will only bring that exhaust back into the basement.
4. “Stale” Air
In comparison to the rest of your home, your basement will have little ventilation. All of the dust and household air pollutants floating around the lower level of your home have nowhere to escape. They’re trapped — which means that you’re breathing them in. And breathing that stale, contaminated air day in and day out is going to make you sick.
So, what can you do? There are few things that you can do to refresh your basement air:
- If you have basement windows, open them to let stale air escape and invite fresh air indoors.
- Use air purifiers.
- Change your furnace filter every 3 months.
- Vacuum your basement on a regular basis.
- Do not smoke cigarettes in the basement.
- Avoid air fresheners and products with strong fragrances.
It’s not normal for you to feel unwell when you stay in the basement for too long. You shouldn’t get a scratchy throat, headache, or dizzy spell when you’re down there. You should feel healthy on every single floor of your house.