Wet Basement

If you have a wet basement, you have a potentially serious problem that needs resolved as quickly as possible. A wet basement can be caused by several things, ranging from build up of water along the foundation due to improperly sloping land to cracks in the foundation or basement windows. Unfortunately, no matter what the cause of your wet basement may be, it can usher in more serious issues such as mold. Mold can be a very dangerous organism, causing illness similar to pneumonia or asthma. These illnesses can even result in long term health problems if they are not resolved. Because of this, it is vital that you resolve your wet basement problems as quickly as possible.

The first step in resolving your wet basement problem is to find the source of the issue. This may involve having to hire an expert to evaluate your foundation. Unfortunately, this can be expensive. If you are interested in doing foundation work on your own, there are a few things that you need to remember. First, and above all, you foundation is the life source of your home. Making errors around your foundation can cause far more significant problems than just a wet basement. Because of this, it is suggested that you make certain all foundation work is done by someone who is an expert with foundations. It is better to spend the extra money and ensure that all of the problems with your foundation are correctly resolved. In some cases, the problem is not even the foundation, but the slope of the land which is causing water to pool against your home and leak in above the foundation and into your basement. This sort of problem is resolved by moving dirt and rocks to new locations so that water drains away from your property rather than towards it. This type of work can easily be done on your own.

Once you have identified the cause of your wet basement, you must fix it before you begin removing any mold that has grown in your home. Until the source of moisture is removed, mold will unfortunately return despite most of the efforts that you put in. Mold can be extremely persistent if there is a source of heat and moisture for it to thrive on. As a wet basement is the ideal home for mold, you will need to be aggressive in removing the mold and drying out your basement. Installing dehumidifiers after your wet basement problems have been resolved can help.

It can take several months after a wet basement problem has been resolved for mold to be completely eliminated.