How Does Dehumidification Work on Foundation Repair?
Do you really need a foundation repair? Cracks on the walls? Squeaking floors? Or sloping floors? Your home shows signs of foundation problems and needs repair, and you would definitely not want to ignore them.
Foundation repair refers to the development of a comprehensive plan that includes details on providing support from the underground level of your home and reverting the foundation to its balanced level, further ensuring that there is no sinking of the house anymore.
Explore a list of symptoms that your home goes through where it demands your foundation to be repaired.
A sinking feeling in your heart?
If you have a sinking heart and your doctor says that you are totally fine and are assured that you don’t have any heart problems, then that’s definitely the feeling of a foundation problem. You feel that your house has changed places and has sunk to a lower level, which, when ignored, those few dips could become an earthquake as quickly as possible in the future.
Exterior and Interior wall cracks
Every crack in the house does not mean foundation problems, as hairline cracks can be easily fixed. Even vertical cracks up the walls are considered normal, but if you spot a large number of cracks around your house walls, your foundation is seeking help from you and showing signs of an unstable structure. Additionally, cracks that are eight inches wide and those that are wider at one side than the other are also a matter of concern.
And yes, you are in trouble if you observe diagonal-shaped cracks on the small exterior or interior walls of your home.
Dislocated indoor fixtures
The foundation is meant to be sturdy and support every load of your home. However, due to a flawed foundation structure, the chimneys, cabinets, and other structures may get detached from the wall, and you may notice gaps in between.
Exterior window-wall Gaps
The damaged foundation is more likely to create a gap between the wall and the windows on your home’s exterior at a slow pace. You might not figure out the uneven foundation leveling but may notice the slow detachment between the structures.
Out of square Doors
The doors may be out of structure and you can notice the inconsistencies in the gap where you may observe that one side of the door has more gap than the other one when you analyze it from a distance. You may also experience that the doors that once used to shut properly don’t anymore.
Wet or flooded basement
If you have foundation problems and are in need of repair, you may have issues with the basement as well. There can be water infiltration through the cracks and pores from the foundation. Due to water flooding, mold can develop, and you get a musty odor.
How Much Money Would I Need for Foundation Repair?
For a foundation repair to last long, you must hire a professional to work with who will give you cost estimations based on the issue that you are currently facing. The three areas of foundation repair have been described below where in each case, cost differentiates according to the issues faced that have been explained below.
Foundation cracks
The foundations might get cracks that can range from minor to major cracks that require professional attention. You could treat small cracks by buying yourself some sealants, which will save your pockets. But if the cracks are large enough such that you are unable to mend them yourself, you need to hire an expert. So, the overall foundation cracks repair can cost you from a range of $35 to $1000, depending on the crack observed.
Unlevelled foundation
You might have to spend around $5300 to $17,000 to repair a foundation whose level has been compromised. In this case, where your home’s level is not upright, you may have to hire a soil specialist to test the moisture level, which could additionally cost around $75 on average.
Foundation Leakages
When you have problems with a leaking foundation, you may have to spend an amount starting from $2000 to $7300 where $2000 might work for you in case of small leakages, but in case you need to work on repairing the drainage system, your repair cost may go up to $7300.
Explaining dehumidification process
All the foundation problems you are currently facing may be due to water infiltration and moisture in the basement and foundation area. The moisture can be so deep within that the basement is sagging, creating a weak foundation. To repair the foundation, you may want to undergo dehumidification.
Simply put, the dehumidification process involves eliminating moisture from the air. During hot weather, warm air from outdoors enters the crawl spaces underneath and cools down along with condensation due to low temperatures. Soon after condensation, the moisture level is high, which becomes the breeding spot for molds to grow. According to research, the dehumidification process ensures that the air is dry, keeping humidity level within the range of 30-50% as suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through which you could avoid mold growth over time, thus making the foundation of your homes stronger.
Your foundation area needs proper air circulation, and you could add a dehumidifier if you have a moist one to avoid further damage to other areas of your home. Now, let’s dive into the overall process in which dehumidifiers work. First, the air in the foundation area gets sucked into the dehumidifier, where it passes through cooling coils. The air becomes dry with the use of dehumidifiers as it completely reduces the moisture level making air dry and throwing moisture towards the surroundings away from the foundation with the help of output ducts. Not only do dehumidifiers make air dry, but the air volume leaving the foundation can also be varied. So, this is the method through which moisture from the foundation area escapes towards the surroundings, keeping it dry and strong at all times.
When Do You Need Dehumidifiers?
Whenever you encounter humidity issues, as mentioned below, you should consider adding dehumidifiers to your foundation area. The dehumidification process will allow you to control moisture and prevent further growth of mold and fungi, defining long-term solutions to the given issues.
- When you feel a high moisture content in the foundation area.
- When you can visibly see mold growth.
- You have constant cold allergies, itchy eyes, and skin conditions.
- Efflorescence prominent on walls and floors also requires moisture control.
- Whenever you sense a moldy odor.
- A recent water leakage or flooding.
- Condensation and water infiltration from doors and windows.
- You have wooden structures that have white flakes and are rotting.
