Climate can be a fickle animal. Across the United States, there are environments that range from drought-level dryness to daily rain and everything in between. But it doesn’t matter how much rain falls from the sky, you might still have invisible or hidden moisture wreaking havoc in your home.
This isn’t about a flooded basement.
A flood in your basement will cause problems if left for too long. Mold or other serious troubles that contribute to major health issues can easily develop from standing water in your basement.
However, the biggest contributor to the development of mold is actually moisture that you can’t even see. This invisible moisture is a result of excessive humidity in the air.
How moisture gets trapped and why it’s an issue
When you have excessive humidity, any porous material can absorb the moisture. The material will become saturated, and even if it looks dry to the eye, that moisture could be causing lots of trouble behind the scenes.
Common building materials that hold onto moisture include paper, wood, MDF baseboard, and even your drywall. Walls in bathrooms, or other locations that come in contact with exterior moisture, like finished basements, are good examples where moisture can build up.
After the material absorbs the excessive humidity, spores can start to feed on the organic material and produce mold. Black mold loves saturated building materials and can cause health issues if left untreated for too long.
What to do about excessive humidity
A GreenWorks Hydrologist will test for excessive moisture in your home. These professionals identify the source of your humidity intrusion even if you can’t see it with the naked eye. They will also offer solutions for how to correct the problem and can recommend remediation specialists if the humidity has caused bigger problems like black mold growth.
Got Moisture, Odor and Mold Issues?
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[…] Mold and mildew growth is a potential problem in every part of a house, but the conditions necessary for mold to grow and thrive are commonly found in crawl spaces. Soil, dust, and air currents bring in spores, while wood fibers and other sources of cellulose provide the nutrients on which mold feeds. The temperature and humidity differences between the air above and below the sub floor often cause condensation, providing the final ingredient that mold growth requires- moisture. […]