"car crash" wrote in message
oups.com...
I need help here !
I bought a brand new home last year with a cold storage room in the
basement. The builder left all kinds of wood in there when they
poured the concrete. I noticed upon moving in and long after that the
mustiness in that room was unbelievable. I had the builder rip out
all the wood and install 2 new vents that were stuck open instead of
the flap vents he installed which allowed NO circulation of air. When
they ripped out of the wood the guy told me that that wood was
basically dripping wet it was so humid.
Well 1 month after new vents and ripping out all the wood, I bought a
thermometer that can read humidity and as soon as I installed it, it
went right up to 100% humidity !!! The mustiness smell is still
there for sure and my wife thinks is sickening and disgusting. So
here are my questions. 1-Why is the humidity levels so high in that room
so high to begin
with? 2-How can I ventilate better ?
3-How do I get the smell out of there?
4-Is there a health risk ?
Any other help would be greatly appreciated.
Ottawa, Canada.

You may have a wet basement caused by improper foundation drainage, roof
runoff misdirected, or built on a spring, or a low spot, or surrounded by
clay soil, or etc etc etc.....
Yes, there is a health risk ( mold, mildew) and risk of wood rot and
structural damage, over time.
Start by having an expert walk around the house and see if the perimeter
foundation is properly drained, and all roof runoff directed by pipe to the
street.
Once you get the drainage issue solved, you may have to go with a sump pump,
and/or an active ventillation fan that changes the air frequently.
There are companies that specialize in solving wet basement problems.
You have one.
Roger