Everyone knows how wet and humid the Eastern Shore can be, but have you ever stopped to think about how all that moisture could be affecting your home? The most common area for water and humidity to wreak havoc in your Easton or Salisbury home is your basement—is your house at risk?
Maybe you’ve noticed water or moisture in your basement but figured a little dampness couldn’t be that harmful. Here’s where it would help to learn more about the dangers of a wet basement in your Eastern Shore, MD home, and how a properly trained basement company like Total Home Performance can help you create a healthier home.
What’s Wrong with a Wet Basement?
Wet Maryland basements offer exactly what mold and mildew need to thrive—moisture, temperature, and a food source for mold to feed on: the materials that make up your home.
Water and moisture often make their way into your basement through cracks and gaps in your foundation. If left unchecked, the resulting wet conditions can lead to:
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Mold and mildew growth
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Musty, unpleasant smells throughout your house
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Air quality issues
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Water stains
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Dry rot
How Does a Wet Basement Affect the Rest of Your House?
Mold that starts to grow in your basement won’t necessarily stay there—it’s easy for it to spread into the living areas of your home. Mold isn’t just gross and unpleasant to see inside—it can also create indoor air quality hazards for your family including allergy symptoms and asthma.
You almost certainly will be able to smell your musty basement from the different rooms of your home as well. And if left unchecked for long enough, a wet basement can even cause structural damage to your home, including your foundation.
How to Keep Water and Moisture Out of Your Maryland Basement
Not every moisture problem in a home is caused by the exact same issue, which is why a qualified basement systems and whole home contractor like Total Home Performance offers a number of different solutions to dry out your basement and prevent future issues. These include:
Mold Remediation
The first step you need to take is to get the existing mold out of your basement! We offer professional mold remediation services to clean out your basement so that you can address why mold was growing in the first place.
Basement Insulation & Encapsulation
Basements can be tricky to keep moisture out of, which is why proper basement encapsulation has so many different components. We insulate and air seal with a powerful spray foam insulation to keep water and outdoor air from infiltrating your basement. Then we install a thick vapor barrier as added protection to keep your basement dry. We often will place a dehumidifier in your basement as well to keep humidity levels under control.
Sump Pump Installation, French Drain Installation, and Basement Repairs
Some basements need more work than others. If you have a serious water or moisture issue, it may be a more involved process to clean up the mess created and keep water out for good! From sump pump and french drain installation to structural and foundation repair, Total Home Performance handles every aspect of your basement clean-up for you.
Not Just Basements—We Solve Wet Crawl Space Issues, Too!
Basements aren’t the only areas of your home where moisture and water can cause problems in your Maryland home! That’s why we offer the same services for crawl spaces as we do basements. From crawl space encapsulation to waterproofing, repair, and maintenance, you can count on our team of local Eastern Shore experts to help!