Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 06:55am | #1

   *
   Mark

   Can you be a bit more specific?

   New house or old?

   Heated basement?

   What does it smell like? Sewage? Mold? Midlew? Petroleum? Gas?

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 07:36am | #2

   *Save your money, get the teenager his own apartment, the odors will go with him.

2. 
   mark_Ryan | Aug 30, 1999 11:14am | #3

   *
   The odours are from mold and mildew. I have tryed a ozone treatment but the smell just came back. I am using a dehumidifier right now but during the summer months it has to run full time to keep the humidity down. The 2 products I mentioned in my previous post are suppose to deal with this kind of problem but I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with them.

   mark

3. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 06:17pm | #4

   *
   A common situation in boats, mold and mildew are usually treated with either a solution of chlorine, or by methylparaben chrystals (mothballs). A product, "En-dew" is sold in marine supply stores, and is in packet form, for hanging.
   Is there a way to "damp-proof" your basement?

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 06:22pm | #5

   *Mark, unfortunately I'm not familiar with either product. What types of products are they? What I'm trying to ask is, based on the "ozone treatment", are they designed to mask or eliminate just the odor? Or, do they attack the problem?Attacking the problem is what you need to do. Get rid of the moisture, in turn, the mold/mildew will disappear.Is your basement unfinished, ie, concrete or block? Is it framed out and the odor eminating from the wood? If just concrete, find the source of moisture and eliminate it. If unable, run a dehumidifier. Once the moisture is reduced, I'd spray the foundation with a couple of washings with a diluted bleach solution, taking appropriate safety precautions. Follow that with, possibly, an interior foundation paint designed to block moisture flow, or a coat of paint with a mildewcide in it.Others, hopefully, with more experience in this area will chime in. Several on this board earn their daily bread by solving moisture-related problems. I'm not one of them, so take my words with caution. They're not worth much, even less due to inflation.Regards, Mongo

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 30, 1999 07:08pm | #6

   *Mark,Ozone, chlorine, etc. will kill ithe mold but unless you reduce the humidity it will come back. Just reducing the humidity will only make the mold dormant. Mongo's methods are good, but being the lazy person that I am, I prefer the ozone treatment over bleach after reducing the humidity because it is easier and gets into places that you wouldn't want to spray bleach such as stored clothes or books.Ron

4. 
   mark_Ryan | Aug 31, 1999 11:32am | #7

   *
   Thanks for the responses so far. I will try to answer the questions that have being posed. The basement is bare concrete. The is no water leakage into the basement and the sump hole is covered and sealed at present.The heating system is hot water baseboard heaters which means I do not get much air circulation. I am presently running a dehumidifier with open windows and this is helping. The problem is living near the coast in vancouver BC the humidity levels tend to be high. The one product I refered to(Ultraaire from therma-stor) brings in fresh air filters and dehumidifies it which seems like a good system. The second one(humidex) draws air off the basement floor and pumps it out side. At the same time it is suppose to draw air from upstairs down into the basement. Introducing warm moist air into a cool basement does not seem like a good idea too me.
   I do agree that once I have the moisture problem beat cleaning and sealing will need to be done.
   Some one mentioned Ozone. I have heard various info on its effectiveness and safety. I have decided that I would not use it in a occupied space. But I still have questions about its effectiveness.
   Sorry for rambling on but I beleive it is a complicated and serious subject.
   Mark

5. 
   Guest_ | Aug 31, 1999 05:16pm | #8

   *
   Mark,

   You might try running the dehumidifier with the basement windows closed. If the major source of moisture is from humid outside air and not moisture coming thru the foundation and floor this should help. If it is coming thru the floor an epoxy or polyurathane floor sealant or paint should help (not a cement or plaster type of paint, they only stop liquid water not vapor). Also check drainage around your house.

   Ron

6. 
   DocSeven | Sep 01, 1999 04:16pm | #9

   *
   Hey Mark - As everyone has said try and eliminate/reduce water infiltration to your basement first. Second, the dehumidifier. Third, some rather harmless anti-mold/mildew productes like "Restore" work well and for up to several months. Avoid any products which use cycloheximide as it is toxic as hell. Finally, don't ever use an ozone generator for any reason. This always cracks me up because air pollution alerts are often based on high ozone levels. Why would anyone ever want to do that inside their houses?

   Best, DocSeven

7. 
   Guest_ | Sep 01, 1999 05:08pm | #10

   *
   Hi DocSeven,

   The ozone should be only used for a short time to kill the mold, not while inhabiting the basement. It is still less harmfull than even diluted bleach fumes and dissipates faster.

   Ron

8. 
   mark_Ryan | Sep 05, 1999 08:54am | #11

   *
   Doc

   You mentioned a product called restore.What type of product is this. What does it do, how do you use it and where do you buy it.
   Ron: I have alternated running the humidifier with windows open and closed because I am trying to bring in fresh air. And if I use ozone I would only use it for a short period in a unoccupied building. I understand I need to clean and seal the walls and floors but I do not think it would be safe to have all the fumes in the a occupied house. Any suggestions for safe cleaning and sealing materials. Also I happen to have 3 gallons of a water based acrylic concrete sealer does anyone know of a additive that would increase its resistance to mold and mildew.

   mark

1. 
   sand_hog | Sep 05, 1999 09:43am | #12

   *how old is the foundation? is it definetley poured concrete? any present leaks or previous repairs? are the walls parged or painted? is it a sump hooked up to draintile?interior or exterior? or just a laundry ejector pit? any floor water problems? 4in.floor? water at floor/wall joint? etc.etc.

9. 
   mark_Ryan | Sep 05, 1999 09:43am | #13

   *
   I am having problems with basement odours
   I am looking into 2 products that claim
   to fix this problem. I would appreciate
   hearing from anyone who has used either
   of them. They are "Humidex" and "Ultra-Aire".
   Thanks for any help in this matter.