High amounts of moisture can contribute to damage–but Superior Exterminating can help. The damage that comes from moisture is usually caused by either fungi or pests. Both are inconvenient, costly, and dangerous. If you own a property with a crawl space or basement, you are especially at risk of experiencing moisture-related problems.
Wood Decay Fungi
When moisture levels are too high, fungal spores develop and thrive. Wood-decay fungus spores are activated by excessive dampness and start to form root-like structures called hyphae. These hyphae grow into the wood and weaken the fibers. There are several different types of wood-decay fungi that can damage your property. In our service region, the three most common forms you may encounter are: brown rot, water-conducting fungi/dry rot, and white rot.
Brown rot causes wood to change color, and upon drying, the wood shrinks into small cubical pieces that are easily crushed into powder.
Dry rot produces papery, yellowish-white fans of hyphae and whitish to black root-like structures that make the wood brittle.
White rot can take on a bleached appearance, and the wood becomes stringy and spongy. Even though the wood is not brittle with white rot, this form of fungi still compromises the integrity of the wood.
Identifying Moisture Problems
If you have noticed any of the following, you may have a moisture problem on your hands:
- Mildew and musty odors
- Peeling paint and wallpaper
- Sticking doors and windows
- Wood rot or sagging floors
- Foundation damage
Our Moisture Solutions
Superior Exterminating has a moisture control program with a variety of components we will tailor based on your unique situation. Your treatment may include:
- Atmox—Using sensors, the Atmox System measures the dew point inside and outside your crawl space to determine when fans should run. The fans create additional air circulation, bringing fresh dry air into the crawl space and ultimately your home.
- Barriers—A protective polyethylene barrier is placed over crawl space soil to prevent naturally occurring water vapors from rising up into your home.
- Borates—An odorless liquid treatment of Borate is applied to all exposed wood in the crawl space, in and around areas where there is wood-decay fungi. Borates assist in the prevention of future wood-decay fungal growth when moisture levels increase.
- Ventilation—One of the ways to tackle a moisture control problem is to increase air circulation in the crawl space and allow existing moisture to escape.
