A Brief Guide to Mold, Dust Mites, Radon & Crawl Spaces

Mold . . . Blame it on Moisture!

The facts are in! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, and countless scientific studies all agree: the key to mold control is moisture control. Mold is present in every home, as well as outdoors, but without moisture it cannot grow to harmful levels. (The U.S. EPA states: “Molds are usually not a problem unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds produce allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances. The key to mold control is moisture control. The mold will not grow if moisture is not present. -Source: U.S. EPA “A Brief Guide to Mold, Mildew and Your Home”, publication #402-K-02-003) A dirt/stone crawl space is by far the number one source of moisture in any home, letting in many gallons of water each day in the form of water vapor (air is made up of invisible gases––dry air and water vapor). Even if your dirt/stone crawl space appears to be “bone dry,” it’s not. A simple test is to dig a shallow hole into the soil. You won’t need to dig far before the soil will appear moist. As the water in all soil evaporates, it releases moisture into the air in the form of water vapor. The Therma-Seal-System™ by Basement & Crawl Space Solutions will permanently seal out the mold-causing moisture in your home.

Dust Mites . . . an Important Trigger for Asthma Attacks!

Mites are tiny microscopic animals that thrive on dead human skin cells in bedding, carpeting, and upholstery. Dust mites leave behind fecal matter and disintegrating body parts measuring 10 to 24 microns in size (the diameter of a strand of human hair is 80 to 100 microns)––a powerful allergen when inhaled. Like mold, dust mites must have moisture to survive. They do not drink water, but absorb moisture from the air. They cannot live in low humidity conditions, but thrive in high humidity conditions. Your main weapon against dust mites is to eliminate the source of moisture.

Radon Gas . . . Why Take the Chance?

Radon gas is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas which occurs naturally from decaying uranium beneath the Earth’s surface. This radioactive gas escapes harmlessly into the Earth’s atmosphere. However, if your home happened to be built over an “escape path,” your home could have dangerously high levels of radon gas. As radon gas is inhaled, microscopic particles get trapped in the lungs. As these particles break down, they release a burst of radiation that damages lung tissue. (According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, radon gas is the number one leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers). The Therma-Seal-System™ by Basement & Crawl Space Solutions will reduce entry of radon gas through exposed crawl space floors––far and away the number one source of entry.

Crawl Spaces . . . Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

As warm air rises, cool air from the crawl space is sucked into the living areas of the home. Called “The Stack Effect,” it’s how a chimney works. This, combined with other factors, means a significant amount of the air you breathe actually came from the crawl space. The Therma-Seal-System™ will greatly improve the air quality throughout your home, providing a cost-effective, permanent solution to allergens and irritants by eliminating the source of the problem while creating a clean, dry, sanitary storage area and saving on energy cost year round.