Basements are perfect environments for moisture to inhabit due to foundation issues and/or moist air rising from the ground. Moist air can rise up through the home and into the attic, making your insulation wet. Some types of insulation are more prone to holding moisture than others.
And, as we all know, where there’s moisture and wetness, you have the ideal setting for mold growth!
Managing moisture in your home
You can do several things to keep moisture from invading your home, particularly your living spaces.
Air Sealing – It’s usually moist air that gets into the home through the basement, walls and up into the attic that creates moisture issues and mold. When we install insulation anywhere in the home, whether in the basement or attic, we like to air seal any cracks, holes, gaps, pipe penetrations and top plates with a foam sealant. Air sealing not only helps to keep out moist air, but also the cold and heat, helping to improve the home’s thermal protection and energy usage.
Bathroom and Kitchen Venting – Cooking and taking showers create moist air in the home, which usually stays rather than dissipating. The best way to remove it is by ensuring those rooms are well-vented, extracting the moist air and blowing it outside.
The Stego Wrap 15-Mil Vapor Barrier protects the concrete slab of the basement from moisture intrusion. Its extremely low permeability effectively prevents against moisture vapor and soil gas transmission with a 20+ year track record of success and a first-of-its-kind Life of the Building Warranty.
Cool Fact:
Using cellulose insulation, you are being green and reducing your carbon footprint 2 ways: by using an environmentally safe product and cutting energy consumption.
Hot Tip:
Assess the air quality in your home because substances such as mold, allergens and/or formaldehyde may exist and could make family members ill.