As an owner of a house in New York City, you probably find mold even after basement waterproofing if you don’t maintain it properly. So, how to ensure mold prevention after basement waterproofing?
To prevent mold after basement waterproofing, you’ll need to locate it, dry it out, and clean it. Then, you’ll need to add a drainage and a sump pump system. After that, you’ll need to take care of gutters and keep the basement dry.
Don’t worry if it sounds new to you. Here, you’ll find out exactly how to stop mold buildup after basement waterproofing and why it’s essential. Let’s begin!
How to Prevent Mold After Basement Waterproofing in New York?
If you have done the basement waterproofing in New York, you’ll need to do a few things to stop mold from growing. Here’s what you should do:
1. Finding Mold in Common Places
To begin the prevention process, you’ll need to start by finding the mold after the basement waterproofing. For that, you’ll need to notice whether the mold can grow in your home.
In general, it grows in any damp or humid area. where it’s damp or humid. Plus, it can be in different colors like gray, black, green, yellow, or orange.
This also might look fuzzy, slimy, or like powder with a musty or stale smell. And, you can find mold in the basement’s ground, deck, rails, etc.
2. Drying Out the Area
Before you clean a moldy area, you need to get rid of all the water first. This also stops mold from spreading. Just make sure to wear protective gear, and wait until the area is arid before you start cleaning.
For your information, drying the area completely is important to stop mold from coming back. To dry the area, you can use:
- A wet/dry vacuum can help suck up water.
- Towels to soak up water.
- If there’s standing water, use drains to remove it.
- Fans can help dry the area faster.
- Dehumidifiers can help reduce moisture in the air.
3. Get Ready to Clean
If your basement has a door inside your home, you should cover it with plastic to stop bad smells from spreading to the rest.
And, it keeps your cleaning supplies near the door so you can easily grab them. While opening windows can help with fresh air, you should avoid doing this if it’s humid outside.
Before you start cleaning, just be sure you have enough bleach, mops, brushes, and buckets. For that, you’ll need to mix bleach with water and use it to clean all the unfinished walls and concrete floors.
Then, you should leave the surfaces wet and let them dry before washing them again. However, you shouldn’t use metal brushes or steel wool on concrete. Because they can harm it and make it soak up more water.
And, be sure to always wear protective gear when cleaning. After you’re done, you should throw away your protective clothing.
| Note: If you find mold even after doing all of the above prevention methods, it’s best to call a water specialist to waterproof the basement properly. |
4. Install an Interior Drainage System
After it rains or when it’s humid, the water can leak through basement walls and create puddles. This can also cause mold to grow because of the extra moisture.
To stop this, you’ll need to think about adding a drainage system along the walls inside the basement. This system will also collect any water and send it to a sump pit. And, it keeps your place dry and moisture-free.
5. Add a Sump Pump System
A sump pump system helps manage water that can build up under your home (especially in the basement). It also starts with a sump pit and a small hole in your basement floor where water collects.
When the water level rises, the sump pump turns on and pumps the water out through pipes that lead it away from your home. And, if you insert a sump pump, it can prevent your basement from flooding during heavy rain. It also helps to keep your home dry and safe.
6. Take Care of Your Gutters
As a matter of fact, gutters are important for managing rainwater that flows off your roof during heavy storms. Without gutters, or if they’re clogged or broken, the rainwater can spill onto the ground and soak into the soil around your home.
This can also lead to water seeping into your basement. And, that’s why it’s crucial to regularly clean and repair your gutters. By doing this, they can do their job of directing water away from your home and keeping your basement dry.
7. Keep Your Basement Dry
By taking care of your basement, it can help prevent water problems. For that, here are some of the basic things you can do to keep the place dry:
Firstly, you should fix any leaks you find. And, if you rent, you can tell the property owner about them.
Then, you’ll need to dry out any damp spots as soon as possible. For that, you can use a fan or dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air.
After a shower, you can make a habit of opening a window or door. And, this way it’ll help to let out steam if your bathroom doesn’t have a fan. Similar to this, you can open a window in the kitchen while cooking.
Why Should You Stop Mold After Basement Waterproofing?
It’s vital to keep mold out of your basement after waterproofing to protect your health. You see, mold can cause issues for people who are allergic or sensitive to it. This can also lead to symptoms like stuffy noses, coughing, and runny noses.
Besides, these signs can be uneasy and make it harder to feel well. For people with asthma, mold can be even more dangerous too. It can also make asthma symptoms worse or cause asthma attacks.
Some people are at an even higher risk of getting sick from mold. This also includes people who are around a lot of mold at work, like those who tear down buildings. And it can harm people who are going through certain medical treatments, like chemotherapy, or who have had organ transplants.
So, by preventing mold after basement waterproofing, it helps protect everyone in your home (especially health-wise).
Wrapping Up
By trying the 7-step mold prevention after basement waterproofing in New York, you can ensure no extra cost in the future.
Just be sure to do it properly via an expert who knows how to keep the basement dry when waterproofing. And, if you haven’t done so yet, you can contact us or visit our website to find the awesome services.
Hope you like this detailed guide enough to try in real life to keep your house free from mold attack after basement waterproofing. Good Luck!