I have an older dirt basement that sometimes gets damp, but all the water runs into a sump and away from the building. When we bought the house, there had been a flood in town that had left the basement filled, so when we moved in there had been an exhaust fan installed to dry it out. My question is that since it has been 8 months since the flood, do we need to keep the fan on all the time, or can we turn it off?
2007-01-07 05:24:56 · 4 answers · asked by Joppa Ben 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
no radon gas
2007-01-07 05:41:34 · update #1
As far as I know, when we had the house inspected there was not a high level of radon gas present.
2007-01-07 05:42:25 · update #2
Agreeing with Tom, you could have radon issues. Just as important, install 6 mil plastic over the floor to prevent moisture from wicking onto building components. An exposed dirt floor promotes mold growth, which can lead to health issues.
To answer your question, keep the fan running to keep conditions dry until you have installed the plastic. Test for radon and remedy as necessary. Good luck.
2007-01-07 05:38:36 · answer #1 · answered by tim r 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A more important question s whether or not you have radon gas which needs to be ventilated. It's pretty common in dirt basements. You should get it tested. There are DIY kits available.
2007-01-07 05:33:44 · answer #2 · answered by Tom J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lay 6 mil poly over the complete surface of the floor to keep moisture from rising, and make sure that there are at least 2 vents down there to keep the air moving.
2007-01-08 20:24:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is a moisture problem, I would say yes. Or you could get a dehumidifier, it is very important to keep moisture down so mold doesn't grow.
2007-01-07 06:47:21 · answer #4 · answered by sunny_day_grl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋