Do you or know somebody who lives in a home with the noxious
“Basement Smell”? Based on thousands of
assessments we’ve conducted and the resulting tens of thousands of samples processed
as Indoor Air Quality Specialists, I can say with certainty that basement air is
the most compromised air in every house.
Even an apparently clean, finished basement often carries ten times the
pollution levels as upper floors and, because these pollutants are buoyant and
therefore rise, often spoil air in rooms above them. But, why does the air in
basements smell unhealthy enough that we’ve coined colloquial phrase after it?
Finished basements with carpeting and gypsum-based wallboard
may accentuate the “Basement Smell” and degrade the overall air quality because
carpeting absorbs moisture through the foundation in a process called capillary action; this capillary action
in turn creates excess humidity, putting more moisture into the air and wetting
the insulation. While carpeting manufacturers claim the carpeting is resistant
to mold, dusts, dirt and skin cells in the fibers are not. Combined with excess
moisture, conditions become ripe for smell molds like Penicllium and
Aspergillus. To even further complicate matters, standard gypsum wallboard is a
common source for the “Black Toxic Mold” such as Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, and
Ulocladium. Typically the insulation behind the wet wall will absorb the
moisture from exterior cement walls or a moisture intrusion source like a
sponge, making the backside—out-of-sight—moldy first. When you are able to see
patches of mold on the front of your wallboard, it is the tip of the ice berg.
As a note: even a one-time water damage incident can lead to Black Mold, which
can continue to grow and release pathogenic spores even after the wall has
dried. It may take months for this insulation to dry. Such environmental
circumstances lead to the foul odor we refer to as “The Basement Smell.”
Unfinished basements also create conditions optimal for mold
growth because they often contain more organic content (dust, dirt, debris),
encouraging fungal growth, than finished basements. Because basements are
typically designed with the limited cross flow ventilation, their lack of airflow,
combined the humidity from the capillary action described above, insight toxic
mold, bacteria and virus growth. It’s not just the toxic properties of these
pathogens that make for an unpleasant odor but the irritating and harmful microbial
volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) present.
So, when you say it “smells like a basement,” you’re really saying “these
mVOCs are out of control. I need fresh air!”
Stored utilities further degrade basement air quality by
spitting out ultrafine lung damaging debris referred to as particulate matter.
These particles ranging from 0.3-10.0 microns are so tiny you can’t see them,
but have the ability to infiltrate the lung tissue in your respiratory tract.
The smaller the particle, the more likely these toxins are to enter your blood
stream. Just because you have a door separating the finished to unfinished
section does not block these particles; you can fit hundreds of thousands of
these particles on a pinhead. At IndoorDoctor, we use digital meters to quantify
these particles so you can make informed decisions about how to properly service
and ventilate your basement.
Other environmental concerns contribute to an overall the unhealthy
basement environments that produce the “Basement Smell.” Some are listed below:
- Fiberglass: Often ignored, fiberglass insulation is another
pollutant that very common in basements; it can be found within walls, on
ceilings, stored in crawlspaces, and lining duct work. Unfortunately, despite
being a known carcinogen and terribly irritating to breathe, little effort
is made to reduce breathing in the tiny jagged glass particles. It is not uncommon to see exercise
equipment below or near exposed insulation even though the vibrations from
this equipment can jar thousands of lung-damaging glass particles into the
air.
- Crawlspaces: Crawlspaces are often so dank and
inaccessible that most homeowners don’t bother trying to make improvements
because redoing a foundation, tearing out walls, installing vapor barriers
becomes cost prohibitive. These crawlspaces , which are often nesting
areas for vermin, account for the majority of odors, With our advanced
equipment, IndoorDoctor can help you make sound practical decisions to
reduce the harmful toxins generated in crawlspaces.
- Radon: Radon is the 2nd leading cause of
lung cancer in the United States and New England is a hot spot for for the
gas due to the ledge and granite rock formations. Radon, which comes up
through the basement foundation, is colorless and odorless, making it
almost impossible to detect without the testing that the EPA suggests
every two years. Beware of uncapped
sump pits, too, which allow for greater passage of radon gas into your
airspace.
- Traditional Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Traditional
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are found in the paint cans and
fertilizer bags we tend to store in our basements because we cannot take
them to the dump, can also emit odors and have serious health effects.
So, what can you do about
the “Basement Smell” when you can’t get rid of your basement? The first step is
to get it tested. An Indoor Air Quality Specialist from IndoorDoctor can help
you quantify the molds, pathogens and other environmental factors that are
either emitting a foul odor or, sometimes even worse, are dormant below your
main living area. The information from these tests will help you develop a
cost-effective plan to reverse the conditions and improve your indoor air
quality. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, basement environments
account for a large percentage of the Indoor Air Quality Assessments I conduct,
and I am confident that proper testing and follow-up will prevent you from
having to talk about your “Basement Smell.” Contact IndoorDoctor today to see how we can
make your home healthier.
