Ensuring a Basement is Safe from Mold and Humidity in Pittsfield, MA
Challenge
This homeowner called us initially with problems he was having with his insulation. His home was not staying the correct temperature, and he was told he likely needed new or better insulation. However, when our Home Comfort Specialist arrived at the home, he noticed that there was a huge problem with humidity, moisture, and mold in the basement -- something the homeowner had gotten so used to, he did not even mention it in the initial call!
The homeowner had mold on multiple surfaces, including in his insulation. Unfortunately, fiberglass insulation is "mold food" - mold and pests thrive in it. This moisture logged, moldy insulation also starts to fall out of the ceiling over time due to the extra weight. This caused a vicious cycle where more moisture and bad temperature control were happening, exacerbating the issues the moldy and moist insulation was having.
There was also a very old door that had no insulation or sealing around it. This let a lot of humidity in from the outside, especially in the summer. To top it all off, there was a dryer vent going through a window -- meaning that area wasn't protected either!
Solution
This home required a multi-part solution in order to properly protect it.
The first step we needed to take was removing the moldy fiberglass insulation from the ceiling. As the insulation was across the entire ceiling, this used a lot of manpower and bags. Once bagged, it was taken to our truck, where it would be taken to our dumpsters.
We then applied our Mold-X2 cleaner to the basement. Mold-X2 bubbles white when it comes into contact with mold, and you can literally see the mold disappear before your eyes. After the mold is removed, we go back over it with our Mold-X2 botanical treatment, which prevents the mold from growing back.
After this, we removed the basement door. After ensuring that the framing was secure, we replaced it with a custom exterior door. We also sealed around the framing to ensure there were no air leaks.
We then moved the dryer vent from the window to the rim joist. The "rim joist" is the perimeter of the floor framing system along the exterior of the house. We re-insulated the spot where the dryer vent previously was.
After this, we re-insulated the basement. Where the home previously needed the entire ceiling covered in fiberglass insulation, it now is able to get even better insulation just by spraying our two-part expanding spray foam into the rim joist. This spray foam fills every crack, crevice, and corner to ensure that there is no air leakage.
As a final method of prevention for this homeowner, we installed our SaniDry™ Sedona dehumidifier. The SaniDry™ protects basements and crawlspaces from the mold that comes with high humidity in a home. It is a high performance and energy efficient system made specifically for the sort of environment a basement or crawlspace has.
This homeowner will now not have to worry about mold and water-logged insulation in his home. It will be much more comfortable for years to come!
