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Your basement can be used for almost anything. It can be a storage unit to stow away your belongings, a bedroom for a visiting friend or family member, or a recreational room to work out or just relax. But in its many applications can come problems of moisture that can not only affect the air quality in the basement, but can become a serious health risk for you and your family. Being that most basements in the state are connected to the living areas above by way of ventilation, it's important to know the causes of moisture and the benefits of dehumidification St. Paul, MN, natives can utilize. What Causes Moisture? There are a number of things that can bring moisture into your basement. If it's raining, the soil can be oversaturated with water and its excess can seep into the basement through capillary suction. Capillary suction is the movement of moisture through porous materials such as concrete, which is commonly used for the flooring and walls of basements. Similarly, vapor diffusion moves moisture in its vapor state. The reason why moisture is entering your basement can even be structural errors such as improperly built window wells, gutter systems, and grading. Moisture can also be transferred by humid air coming in through the windows and condensing once it meets the cold basement walls and floor. Some internal humidity factors could be daily activities such as showering, cooking, using a dryer that's unvented, and using a humidifier during the colder seasons. What Are Some Problems Associated with Moisture? Mold and mildew are the biggest problems when it comes to moisture. A highly humid environment is perfect for the growth of mold, usually found on the walls, floor, and other areas where moisture is readily available. It emits a very pungent smell and causes skin, eye, throat, and lung irritation to anyone who inhales it. Mildew is also known to cause lack of breath for those with severe mold allergies and promote an attack in those with both asthma and allergies. The contaminated air alone makes your basement uninhabitable. The wood that's used as the skeletal framework of your house will rot, the concrete walls and floors will spall, and, in cases of high volume of moisture, standing water and a possible flood can occur. In short, moisture can cause severe damage to your basement, your personal property, and you and your family if left untreated. How Does Dehumidification Work? Your basement can be free of humidity and insusceptible to the problems listed above through a number of methods of dehumidification. The cooling method, also called vapor condensation, is when the humid air passes through the cooling coil of a cooling-based dehumidifier or air conditioning system, reducing the air below dew point temperature. Then the condensed air is drained out by the small tubing within the unit. Similarly, this can also be accomplished by the heating method with the use of the heating system or heat-based dehumidifier. This is perfect method of dehumidification St. Paul, MN, residents can use during the winter. However, it's important not to raise the level of heat above thirty-five degree Celsius. The high temperature can increase the pressure of steam trapped in the walls and could lead to cracking and damage. The adsorption method employs the use of hygroscopic chemicals such as alumina, silica gel, and molecular sieves. These properties raise the heat in the air, increasing the dew point temperature, then absorb moisture without changing the physical or chemical structure of the agents. Using the absorption process also uses chemicals like a calcium chloride solution to absorb moisture, but involves changing the physical or chemical structure of the material.
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