Is your basement sick and making you ill? Rickety stairs and rodent infiltration aren’t the only dangers lurking in your basement. Whether you visit your basement often for working out or just a quick visit for laundry, the presence of basement mold and other air contaminants could have a negative impact on your health.
Mold Loves Basements
Because basements are below ground and generally lack windows, doors, and natural sunlight, excess moisture in the basement can’t easily escape. And where there’s moisture, there’s usually mold. Fix your sick basement as soon as possible.
Mold tends to grow in damp areas, such as under leaky roofs, pipes, walls, or basements. Water can enter your basement through a crack in the foundation, a basement window, or any little hairline fractures. It isn’t always easy to pinpoint the source of the leak, especially since water may be entering from multiple sources.
This is a major problem for homeowners because it makes it more difficult to prevent future moisture problems from occurring.
If you don’t visit your basement often or have a lot of clutter that hides your walls, mold can flourish undetected and contaminate your indoor air quality. In some cases, mold that starts growing in the basement can work its way to upper levels in your home, traveling through air vents and being tracked through the home on shoes or clothing.
Other Invisible Dangers in the Basement
Mold is a major problem with basement air quality, but it’s not the only one. Think about the things you store in your basement, such as half-empty paint cans, lawnmower fuel, extra insulations, oils, the container for your fireplace ash, adhesives, and other stuff you wouldn’t want to inhale directly.
When these things aren’t properly sealed and stored, the toxic fumes and other contaminants mix with your fresh air. The particles get into your eyes and lungs, irritate your skin and throat, and cause allergy-like flare-ups and other unwanted side effects.
If you use your basement often (e.g. gym, home office, etc.), you’re putting your health at risk with every breath you take. In addition, the air quality and mold growth in your basement can also travel to other areas of your home. Every time you open the basement door, you’re allowing poor quality air to travel into your main living spaces.
Toxic Sewage Contamination and Your Health
How Can I Tell if My Basement Has an Air Quality Problem?
Unfortunately, one of the most common ways to identify a basement air quality problem is for it to affect your health.
If you’re feeling the effects of allergies or battling flu-like symptoms, don’t write off your illness so quickly. Knowing the true cause of your symptoms can help you eliminate them once and for all.
Indoor Doctor is the leading environmental testing professional to help you get an unbiased assessment of your indoor air quality. Our team is skilled and certified in the latest air quality testing techniques. We will give you accurate results and help you make an informed decision on how to remedy any issues.
Contact us today to get a quote on basement air quality testing for your home or business. Breathe easy – we’ve got you covered.
