mold

Hello:
we built a new house with a full basement, poured walls and we have some heat, but now mold is begining to show up on the items down there. what do i need to do to stop this? it looks like it could get bad. thanks cork

 

Is this on the walls, ductwork, where? Is this a finished basement? if so how was it finished?

 

Hello no the basement unfinished but we have some old wood case radios and leather recliners and davenport and they have spots of mold on them. like i said we have some heat down there but relized that they did not put any cold air returns in for the base ment but dont know if thats the problem.

thanks for any help cork

 

cork,

It might be that you humidity level down there is Extreme.

Poured basement, new home - the water that is dissipating has to go somewhere and with lack of heat and a cold air return, it is going to grow!

If this was heated to 70 degrees, the humidity level would still be high. Use dehumidifiers if necessary in basements and other areas during high humidity months. Average setting for humidity should be at 35% - 40% - no higher than 55% - too much can create and promote the growth of organisms such as fungi, bacteria, mites and viruses, which can be common allergens for many people.

In conjunction with humidity and temperature control, adequate air circulation will help prevent mold growth. Air circulation helps control moisture levels through evaporation.

Installing a heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system with humidity control can solve all three problems of humidity, temperature, and air circulation at the same time. Such systems are not easy to install, simple to maintain, or inexpensive. But they provide the most effective means of preserving your collections. Not only do suitable HVAC systems assist in mold prevention, but they also stabilize the environment and hence eliminate the distortion of materials due to fluctuating temperature and humidity.

Hope this helps!

 

Hello thanks for the reply, i will get a dehumidifier, so do i need a gauge to tell me what percent the humidity is?

 

cork,

It's the only way you're going to know what it is and then maintain a constant setting to ensure that you don't have any more problems.

Glad it helped!