How To Prevent Mould In Basements

CONTENTS

• Keep the area tidy and organised
• Avoid decorating the space with plants
• Repair leakages
• Consider insulation
• Ensure adequate ventilation
• Contact us today

According to the Mayo Clinic, the humidity in homes should be in the region of 30-50%. If the humidity is higher than this, the chances of you developing mould in your home are higher.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we are a specialist provider of mould remediation services nationwide. We operate 24/7, 365 days a year to help our customers, providing services that can be fit to meet your personal requirements.

In this blog, we take a look at some of the ways you can prevent mould in your basement. Some of these are measures that can be taken without involving professionals, but with others you will need the assistance of specialists.

Keep the area tidy and organised

Ensuring your basement is kept neat and tidy is a key way you can prevent mould from developing. Having too many belongings in this area can halt air from circulating in the air properly. 

Materials stored in the basement, such as cardboard, clothes and books provide the perfect sustenance for mould. This growth thrives on decomposing organic matter, which it will find plenty of from these items.

Wherever possible, try and keep items off the floor and a good distance away from walls to help air to be ventilated properly. Additionally, having a clear out of possessions will free up space in the basement.

Taking measures like this reduces the likelihood of you experiencing mould in this location. However, if you do spot any signs of growth, it is important to contact the professionals promptly to have the issue remediated.

This is because mould can cause significant damage to homes or to human health if left untreated. Check out our blog for more information on this.

Avoid decorating the space with plants

Although plants can brighten up a living space and make it more homely, they provide nutrients that help mould growth through their leaves and soil.

Spaces with large amounts of humidity and the presence of plants provide a great atmosphere for the development of mould. 

Another alternative is to invest in fake plants. Many on the market nowadays look as authentic as the real deal, and will help stop mould from occurring in this area of your house. 

Repair leakages

Leaks unfortunately often take place in basement areas, so it is important to have them repaired as soon as you notice them. 

Water that enters the basement through leaks can cause high amounts of moisture, creating the perfect environment for mould to grow. If you don't frequent your basement a lot, the leak could go unnoticed for long periods of time which will make the mould worse.

Hiring in professional contractors to seal any holes in your facade is a good idea, as this will eliminate the source of the leakage. It is also advisable to inspect the area regularly for other issues with the exteriors that could lead to further leaks.

If you have suffered from flood damage as well as mould in your basement, our qualified technicians are on hand to help. They have years of experience in flood damage cleaning and will be able to solve the issue for you with their advanced technology and solutions. 

Consider insulation

Another way you can prevent mould in your basement is to invest in insulation. For example, you could add this to pipes in the area to stop condensation from occurring, or even in the walls.

Insulation will help regulate the temperature in the basement and can even help you save on your energy costs in the winter months. It also makes the room more comfortable if you use it as a living space.

The type of insulation you need will vary depending on your particular requirements, but professional contractors are well-equipped to choose the right solution for you.  In the UK insulation is a popular option because many of the houses are aged and are therefore not the best at conserving energy. 

Ensure adequate ventilation

If you use your basement as a laundry room, then it is wise to have adequate ventilation in the area to stop mould growth. For example, this could be in the form of a fan to help air circulate, or opening any windows. 

Another way of ventilating the room is with a dehumidifier. This works by sucking high levels of moisture from the room, which is a good option if there is a lot of steam coming out of your washing appliances.

This equipment can create high humidity in basement areas, so it is crucial that you ensure ventilation within the room.

However, if you do find mould growth here, our expert technicians can help with our mould remediation. We are able to conduct a moisture survey to identify the particular type of mould that has developed, which we do by collecting samples to send to a lab. This will help us identify the source of the problem, and support our technicians in choosing the right treatment for you.

Contact us today

To book your mould remediation service with us, reach out to our team today on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. A member of our friendly support team will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Also have a look at our page to learn more about our innovative ICE SHIELD® solution. This is applied following every mould removal job for added protection and works by combining fogging technology with a persistent solution to protect against bacteria and viruses for up to 28 days.