builder services

Mold & Moisture Control

...in your Basement

Basements are naturally cooler than the rest of the house, which makes them subject to high humidity. Because the basement floors and walls are in contact with the soil, and soil temperatures several feet below the surface remain at a constant temperature of 50°-60°F or less, basement floors and walls tend to remain cool. Also, basements generally do not have windows and so there is no solar heat gain. Therefore, since basements tend to be cool and cool air holds less moisture than warm air, basements will have higher relative humidity.

Moisture is the most common problem in basements—either entering from outside sources or being produced inside by the occupants’ activities. The soil around the walls can contain a large amount of moisture from surface water that is seeping down or from a high water table. Water can find its way inside by gravity or through a crack or flaw in the water protection layer of the foundation. Water can also be pulled up by a “wicking action” or “pushed up” by hydrostatic pressure from the soil under the walls or floor.

• High humidity levels in the basement encourage rust, mildew, mold and odors.
• Most anything stored in a basement is vulnerable.
• Additional health risk is added where there are allergies to mold and dustmites or if a family member has asthma.
• To protect your family and the investment you have made in your home, maintain 50% relative humidity as recommended by the EPA.

The Santa Fe™ Series of free-standing dehumidifiers are designed to operate in the cooler temperatures of a basement and at real world conditions of 60°F and 60% relative humidity. In these conditions, the Santa fe dehumidifier would still remove a remarkable 64 pints of water per day. The Santa Fe Dehumidifier removes odor-causing moisture and maintains EPA recommended relative humidity levels of 45 to 50% — ideal conditions for an odor free storage space or comfortable living space for you and your family.

If you store anything of value in your basement or if you use your basement as living space, it is important to keep the moisture levels low. relative humidity levels rising above 70% stimulate the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria and other biological allergens, which generate musty basement odors. These conditions must also be prevented in microenvironments such as underneath carpeting, rugs, or storage boxes.

The Santa Fe is the most energy-efficient dehumidifier in the industry and offers time-tested technology to maintain 50% or less relative humidity in your home — the levels recommended by the EPA, American Lung Association, and American Medical Association.

...or in your Crawlspace

Excess moisture, introduced by way of unsealed, vented crawlspaces, contributes to wood rot, mold growth and increased pest activity. Moisture in crawlspaces often migrates to the upper levels of the home through a “stack effect.” In essence, whatever air is below the house is also in the house. As warm air rises and escapes through the upper levels of the home, new air finds its way into the home to replace what’s been lost. Intake air comes in at the lower levels – through unsealed crawlspaces. This may lead to costly problems such as cupping of hardwood floors, mold growth, increased air conditioner loads, and swelling of millwork/cabinetry. Air infiltration from the crawlspace often carries odors and may contribute to poor indoor air quality and uncomfortable humidity levels.

Excess moisture in crawlspaces has also been associated with contributing to increased energy consumption. Wintertime ventilation cools the crawlspace contributing to heat loss from the home. In the summer, introducing warm outside air under the home contributes to heat gains, increasing cooling loads. Ventilation of a crawlspace to control relative humidity only works consistently in an arid climate. In most climates, ventilation can actually add significant quantities of moisture during humid times.

Why Vented Crawlspaces Can Make Humidity Worse.

A Better Solution.

It is important to note the areas of concern when taking steps to responsibly convert your vented crawlspace to a sealed and conditioned space. Those include, but are not limited to: assuring proper water drainage, installing vapor barriers, consideration for combustion and carbon monoxide and sealing outside vents and controlling moisture with a crawlspace dehumidifier.