As the relentless, wet weather continues here in the north east it may be a good time to go to the basement and check for funny odors. Even if you don't have any history of water entering there, the ground is now so saturated that moisture may eventually find its' way in. There may not be puddles along the edges of the wall or pooling in the corners, the dampness could be sweating inside the basement walls, or being absorbed by sheetrock.
The first level of defense is to run a dehumidifier and keep a humidity measuring device in plain view. The dehumidifier should be located away from exterior walls, so as not to draw moisture in, and you will want to make sure that the relative humidity does not exceed 50%. Dry, fresh air is not in the forecast so opening windows is not an option. Topical deodorizers will provide temporary relief from damp air odors but, removing the moisture from the air is vital.
Comments(2)