You breathe basement air, like it or not. Did you know?
It’s a fact, warm air rises. But did you know that the humidity and spore rise also? If you have a wet and moldy basement, then the rest of your house too.
Stack effect: Air circulation from bottom to top
As warm air rises in a home, it leaks out of the upper levels. New air must enter to replace the air that escaped. In an average home, about half of the air escapes each hour out of the upper levels. This creates a suction at the lower levels to draw in replacement air. In older homes, the air exchange rate can be higher.
What this stack effect does is create an airflow in your home from the bottom to the top. Air from the basement is drawn upward into the first floor, then the second floor, etc. Of course, it dilutes with other air in your home, but building scientists say that up to 50% of the air you breathe on the first floor is the air that came from the basement.
Why should I care?
Wet basement = Wet home. We spend a lot of time in our home, especially since the work at home tendency has increased. We should be concerned about the quality of the air we breathe and also our comfort. Damp air contains mold, and now knowing the fact that this air is in your entire home, it can have negative effects on your home, but also your health. Negative effects of a damp basement are:
- Dust mites
- Mold upstairs
- Increased cooling and heating bills
- Buckling hardwood floors
- Aggravated asthma and allergies
- And more!
How to improve the comfort of my home?
To have a healthy, dry and comfortable home, think to solve your damp basement first. Many solutions exist from sump pump to french interior drain or plastic coating. However, the difficulty is to know what Is the source of the problem and where to start. For that reason, it is highly recommended to ask a basement waterproofing specialist who can suggest you the right solutions.
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