Why Should I Care About Moisture in My Basement?
This is an excellent question that most people don't think to ask. There is a long list of reasons why you should care about elevated moisture levels in your basement or crawlspace. Here is a list of just a few:
RH (relative humidity) should be maintained between 30-50% at all times. This target range has been set by the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and American Lung Association. When RH exceeds 50%, bad things start to happen. This includes:
- Mold Growth (Triggers for Asthma, Bronchial and other health Issues)
- Elevated Insect Activity
- Elevated Rodent Activity (because of the insects)
- Elevated bacteria and viral activity (because of the insects and rodents)
- A generally foul 'musty basement smell' (due to all of the above)
- Accelerated rust in appliances (HVAC, Laundry, etc), which leads to a shortened life cycle (as much as 50%)
- Dry Rot in wooden members like floor joists, sill plates, and rim joists, which can cause structural problems
In short...nothing good happens when the RH in your basement or crawlspace goes above 50%.
- acc
