Dampness in your basement is a bad enough problem on its own, but it's twice as bad when the dampness results in mold on basement walls. Being exposed to mold isn't healthy for anyone of any age, allergy sufferer or not. While some people don't exhibit any adverse symptoms due to mold exposure, others may develop respiratory problems, nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, and skin irritations. Many mold spores are extremely tiny which means you can breathe them deep into your lungs. In order to keep your home healthy for your family and maintain its resale value, you need to know how to detect and remove mold from your basement walls.
Obviously, if you can see mold growing on your basement walls, you know you have a problem. However, not all mold is easy to see. Usually it's safe to assume that if there is a musty smell, mold is present. Even a small amount of mold can make the environment unsafe for young children, senior citizens, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. It can also cause you to develop a mold allergy which will make you much more susceptible to unhealthy side effects. In the best interests of everyone living in your household, you have to find a way to eliminate the mold problem.
The American Society of Home Inspectors statistics show that 60% of all American homes have moisture in the basements. Of this number, 38% are at a risk for developing basement mold. Having a wet basement is enough to send your home value tumbling, and mold will make it unattractive to prospective buyers. Mold will grow on anything organic that you have in your basement which includes things like carpeting, drywall, ceiling tiles, wood, cloth, paper, and cardboard. Obviously, if you attempt to raise the resale value of your home by finishing your basement, the mold problem is only going to worsen.
The minute you suspect there is mold in your basement, you need to get started removing it. If you don't, the problem will only get worse. Make sure you wear a mask, goggles, and gloves when you remove mold from your basement walls, because even dead mold spores can cause health issues. After you've removed all of the mold, wash the walls thoroughly with a solution of bleach and water. Don't get complacent when the problem is gone, however. Something caused it to grow in the first place, so if you don't eliminate the source of the moisture, the mold is going to come back.
Having mold in the basement can present a serious health risk for family members living in the home and seriously detract from the house's appeal to homebuyers should you decide to sell it. If you want to maintain a healthy environment for your family and maximize your resale value, it's critical to take care of all mold problems as soon as possible.
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