The news of a dry basement is the best thing that you have heard all day. The fact that the sump pump you installed last summer is doing its job is a huge relief. While other neighbors are dealing with water in their basement, you are excited that the plans you have in place have worked in keeping your basement dry.
With the use of the latest basement waterproofing methods, property owners are able to protect both their property and their belongings. Sump pump installation and the use of moisture barrier paint serve as the first steps that many people use to make sure their dry basement survives even the most challenging situations.
Crawl Spaces and Basements Are Especially Susceptible to Water Damage
Because of high water tables and unexpected rains, many properties are vulnerable. The latest research, in fact, shows that 98% of all homes with basements will experience some type of water damage at one point or another. When water damage does happen, it is important to make sure that you deal with the damage as soon as possible to make sure that you deal with the problem as soon as possible. in fact,professional recommendations are to clean up and dry out a water damaged home within 24 to 48 hours after flooding to prevent mold growth. Consider some of these other facts and figures about the problems that are associated with basement water damage and the prevention techniques that are the most helpful:
- 15% to 20% of new homes continue to be built over crawlspaces.
- In fact, 27 million homes in the U.S. have crawlspaces.
- Plants should be placed a minimum of two feet from a building’s foundation and should be low enough in the soil so as not to direct water toward the foundation.
- 93% of chronic sinus infections have been attributed to mold, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- 100% of all types of mold have the potential to cause some health effects, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These effects can range from very minor to severe, and in some rare instance can lead to death.
- Even wall-vented crawl spaces cannot maintain relative humidity below the 70% threshold, so they routinely experience condensation which leads to mold growth.
Rather than take your chances and hope that you get lucky the next time that there is a major weather event, it is important to use all of the available resources to make sure your basement stays dry.