Why Is It Important to Stop Water from Getting into My Basement?

Preserving a comfortable, healthy home relies on keeping your basement dry. Basements are vulnerable to water seepage and combating this is essential. Not taking measures to waterproof your basement can have costly consequences. 

Wood Rot 

Wood rot is a common problem sign of moisture issues in the basement. This is a fungus that grows on and devours damp wood, meaning that a large portion of your home is vulnerable to this organism. 

Wood rot is an issue not because it is toxic, but because without measures taken against it, the fungus will continue to infest any wood structures it can latch onto. Often, this fungus eats wood from the inside out, which can cause no small amount of structural integrity issues. 

Left alone, wood rot can cause significant damage to the basement and home. It can even compromise the integrity of your home, making it unsafe to inhabit. 

Indoor Air Contamination 

Water in the basement creates a damp environment perfect for mold to grow. To many, mold isn’t considered overly dangerous. In most cases, the molds found in damp basements aren’t types that can cause severe illness. They can, however, trigger allergies and cause irritation of the eyes, mouth, and throat. This is caused by airborne spores released by the mold colonies, carried up into the home by warm air currents. 

Toxic mold variants, like black mold, can have more severe impacts on your family’s health, even for those that don’t suffer from allergies or asthma. 

High Humidity 

Water in the basement that is not removed will eventually begin to evaporate. Without a dehumidifier or ventilation system, this moisture-laden air will be trapped in the basement, eventually spreading into the home. Aside from causing moisture-related issues, this creates pockets of humid air in living spaces, making them uncomfortable to inhabit. 

To combat the rising humidity, many people will run their air conditioning system for longer periods. 

This results in a higher energy bill at the end of every month. Here is just one aspect where an effective drainage system will pay for itself in the long run. JES provides dehumidifier installations for basements or crawl spaces for homes that need to combat high humidity levels!