Dehumidification – The Anti-Mold

Basements can become damp even after a basement waterproofing system is installed

A damp basement can create numerous problems for you home in terms of both comfort and function. Luckily, Systèmes Sous-sol Québec is here to help educate you on the risks of basement moisture and the ways to prevent it.

• Capillary action, or wicking, can bring in moisture. For example, a block wall may not leak, but it feels damp because it's wicking the water inside it to the surface like a sponge.
• Water vapor coming through your walls and floor also needs to be addressed. By installing one of our basement wall systems and our ThermalDry® Floor Matting, we don't have to worry about wicking and have slowed water vapor transmission down considerably.
• Water also gets into your basement from exterior air leaking into your basement. This is not a problem as long as the outside air is cooler than the basement, but the warmer summertime air moves lots of water into your basement.

Humid air can bring water into your basement

Whenever the outside air is warmer than the inside air – and especially when it's humid outside air – we are likely to have a condensation problem in our subterranean levels. This is because the Relative Humidity of air goes up 2.2% for every one-degree you cool it. Basements are always cool because they are below ground, and we know that a house is like a chimney – air flows upwards, allowing air to escape the upper levels, with new air being sucked in at the lower levels.

So, when it's hot and humid in the summer, rain or not, our basement may be the wettest it has been all year!

If it's an 80-degree day with Relative Humidity of 80%, and we suck this air into our basements and cool it to 68 degrees, the Relative Humidity goes up by 26.4% (12 degrees x 2.2%). Wait a minute... 80% plus 26.4% is more than 100%, and we can't have more than 100%. So instead, as the air becomes saturated it gives up its moisture on your cold basement walls, floor, water tank, pipes, and other cold things. This is called condensation.

Even without condensation, we still get high relative humidity levels, which allows mold to grow and cause “stinky basement syndrome.” Additionally, dust mites love high relative humidity levels.

In order to eliminate condensation, you need to either heat the air, which is ridiculous in the summer, or take water out of it, which is easy to do -- if you have the right equipment. Systèmes Sous-sol Québec has the expertise, equipment, and products to keep your basement dry and comfortable.

The solution: A dehumidifier designed for humid basements and crawl spaces

A dehumidifier is the plain answer, but not just any dehumidifier will do the job. That's why Systèmes Sous-sol Québec provides our customers with a cutting-edge basement dehumidifier system.

The latest generation of SaniDry™ dehumidifiers is more powerful and energy efficient than ever! Each one includes a comprehensive, written warranty upon installation. Each SaniDry™ installs with a powerful blowing motor that circulates dry air throughout the space, aggressively drying out your basement or crawl space. Collected water can be drained into a sump pump pit, a section of your perimeter drain, or away via a condensate pump. Our installers can provide you with either of these two award-winning dehumidifier systems:

• SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier

  

  The SaniDry Sedona is the world's most efficient, high-performance dehumidifier and filtration system, without a bulky heat exchange core. With its small size, it takes up less space in a basement and easily fits in small crawl spaces.

  Benefits:

  • Eliminates damp, musty odors by drying and filtering air
  • Costs less to run than other dehumidifiers
  • Filters mold spores, dust mite droppings, dust and other particles
  • Set it and forget it - Sedona does the rest with automatic drainage and humidity sensing

  System features:

  • Removes up to 95 pints of water per day
  • Moves over 300 cubic feet of dry air per minute
  • Can be ducted

• SaniDry XP Upright Dehumidifier

  

  For most basements, our SaniDry™ XP Basement Air System is the ideal choice. This model can easily be stored in a corner or closet so it doesn't interfere with a finished basement.

  System features:

  • Digital control panel
  • Ductwork compatibility for drying finished spaces
  • Removes up to 109 liters of water per day
  • Dries up to 2,500sq. ft. in a 8 ft. high basement
  • Air filter removes particles as small as 2 microns

If you're interested in installing a dehumidifier in your basement or crawl space, contact us today to schedule your FREE home inspection and estimate.

Our experts will can give you all the information you need to keep your home dry and comfortable all year long. Call us today for a free estimate on all our basement waterproofing services. We proudly serve in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Gatineau, Trois-Rivieres, Terre-bonne, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Levis, and throughout Quebec.

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