Basement Truths pt 1. You Breathe Basement Air ... Like it or Not! As warm air rises in a home it leaks out of the upper levels. New air must enter the home to replace the air that has escaped. In fact, in an average home about half of the air in the home escapes each hour. This creates a suction at the lower levels of the home and draws in replacement air. In older leaky homes the air exchange rate can be as high as a full air exchange per hour. What this stack effect does is create an airflow in your home from bottom to top. So air from the basement is drawn upwards into the first floor and then to the second floor. Of course it dilutes with other air as it rises, but building scientists say that up to 50% of the air you breath on the first floor is air that came from the basement. If you have hot air heating with duct work, the air mixes even more thoroughly throughout the house. Therefor, whatever is in your basement air is in your house and affecting you, whether you spend time in your basement or not. If there is high humidity downstairs there is higher humidity upstairs than there would be otherwise. If there is mold in your basement, there are mold spores upstairs. If there are damp odors downstairs - you get the idea. Air leaking out of the home at the top, means that air is leaking into the home at the bottom. Prove It! Do this test. In the winter, go into your basement and open a window a bit. Fell the cold air blasting in at you? Close the window...its cold outside. Now go upstairs to the second floor if possible and crack a window open an inch or so. You dont feel any cold air blasting in? Why not? Because warm air is blasting out. With low air pressure on the lower levels your house sucks air out of the ground in the lower level and blows it out of the top of the home due to the higher air pressure. Whats in your basement is in your home...Whether you like it or not. For a free inspection and quote call our office at 515-289-1606, our courteous office staff is here to serve you. For more information about Midwest Basement Systems and our products and services watch for future Face Book updates and check out our website at: midwestbasementsystems/
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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