Is Dampness Always a Problem?

Dampness and humidity are some of the most dangerous issues any home can face, not because they are directly dangerous in most cases, but because they create an unhealthy environment that allows secondary and tertiary issues to grow and spread. The most worrying of these issues are wood rot and mold formation. 

Rotting Wood 

Wood rot is a very real danger in homes that have issues with dampness and high relative humidity, and once it takes root it can cause severe and widespread damage. There are three kinds of wood rot that you should be aware of: brown rot, soft rot, and white rot. All of these forms of wood rot require fungal spores and a certain amount of moisture to grow, but the varying kinds impact wood slightly differently, spread at different paces, and can survive in slightly varied temperature ranges. 

Brown rot, or dry rot, is the most worrying kind of wood rot for most homes because of the alarming speed at which it can spread. You will recognize wood rot by the discolored, cracked appearance it causes in impacted wooden surfaces (they almost look burnt in some cases). White rot, by contrast, moves fairly slowly and causes a white residue to form on the wood while making the texture spongy and soft. Soft rot is more likely to cause a slightly honeycombed appearance with patches of discoloration. If left to grow unchecked, wood rot can cause collapse in impacted sources. 

Mold and Mildew 

Mold, like wood rot, requires the presence of spores, moisture, and organic material in order to grow and thrive. However, unlike wood rot mold does very limited damage to the surfaces on which it grows. Instead, it is more likely to cause issues for you and your family. Not all mold species are dangerous to people; most are benign, while a select few cause issues that are similar to those caused by allergies. Only a few forms of mold are actively dangerous, but black mold is unfortunately common. 

Black mold can cause serious issues for many people. The side effects of exposure include headaches, dizziness, rashes, infections, fainting, and even seizures. These side effects and issues are even more pronounced when the individuals in question are already vulnerable in some way. Those with underlying respiratory or auto-immune conditions are particularly at risk of serious issues that require medical attention. It is best to control dampness and humidity to avoid mold formation and to act quickly to remove it when you find any formations in your crawl space or home.