More than 27 million homes in the U.S. have crawlspaces, and experts estimate that about 30% of American homes have basements as well. But whether you have a crawl space or basement in your home, it’s important to keep it dry, and to understand why it needs to stay dry. Wall-vented crawl spaces cannot maintain relative humidity below the 70% threshold; therefore, they routinely experience condensation and mold growth. If you have a crawl space or basement, keeping it dry is essential. Here’s part one of our homeowner’s guide to understanding the benefits of basement waterproofing.
Remove Odors
First, many basements that aren’t adequately waterproofed have a distinct stench of moldiness or mildew permeating from their walls. This musty smell can be very unpleasant and deter you from wanting to go into the area at all. Removing this odor alone can help to improve the basement or crawl space’s functionality, and a dry basement won’t have this mildew smell at all.
Remove Pests
If you’ve ever dealt with a wet basement, you may also be familiar with the many pests that always seem to find a way to enter and make your basement or crawl space their new home base. This is due to the inevitable fact that many types of pests actually prefer moist environments. Fortunately, adding a basement or crawl space dehumidifier can help to rid the space of moisture, meaning the pests will be eliminated as well.
Improved Air Quality
It may sound surprising, but taking basement or crawl space moisture removal efforts can actually improve the quality of air in your home’s upstairs. This is because the air circulating in a wet basement typically has biocontaminants and other pollutants and allergens that result from ongoing mold and mildew issues. This air then travels upstairs and rises out of the attic through something called the chimney effect. The Environmental Protection Agency even estimates that a whopping 50% of your home’s air comes from the basement. This means that basement and crawl space insulation can help with mold removal and improving the air quality in your entire home.
Ultimately, being aware of these benefits of basement waterproofing can help you make the right decision for your home and keep you and your family healthy as well. Keep an eye out for the next post, where we’ll discuss some more distinct advantages of keeping your crawl space or basement as dry as possible.
