If you're currently living in a basement apartment, or want to safe- proof your house basement, be careful and know exactly what to look for.
Basements have their positives and negatives to them. Some regard basements as being "down in the dungeon" while others find them to be a comforting nook to get away from everything and everyone. If you're currently living in a basement apartment, or want to safe- proof your house basement, be careful and know exactly what to look for.
Issues Regarding a Furnace
If you have a furnace which is either oil or gas, you should make sure to have it checked regularly by the same company that provides the services for it. Make sure that there are no unecessary leaks or fissures in any of the wires or hoses. Also, if your are experiencing an unusual smell when the furnace operates, call the oil company right away. It is not good to breathe in these fumes emitted by the furnace.
Temperature
The temperature in your basement is very important. Often, basements are too damp, cold, humid or hot. A few good utilities to have on hand are a cool mister, dehumidifier, and a heater. Any of these items may be purchased at a department store. With a cool mister, you have to be concerned with changing the filters, which are not inexpensive. A cool mister adds a bit of "cool" to the suffocating, dry air that you may be experiencing.
Heating
Sometimes, there may be problems with heating in a basement. Either you get too much heat and it is way too dry to breathe, or you have periods where you do not get enough of heat and it is chilly and damp. In this case, invest in a small utility heater, which may be purchased at a department store ranging from $19.00 to $30.00. This will help heat up small areas in the basement that seem to always have a "chill in the air."
Breathing and Carbon Monoxide
Basements aren't the best places to improve your breathing. Often, people with allergies and other breathing problems should not be in the basement, if it can be avoided. In fact, basements are also known to be classified as a high risk area for carbon monoxide. If you are living in a basement apartment, invest in a carbon monoxide detecter (priced at about $25.00). This is one of the best investments you"˜ll ever make--it could save your life. When you get the carbon monoxide tester, make sure that you know how to use it and practice understanding the guide that comes with it. Also, make sure that you test the batteries periodically, and make certain that it is working correctly.
Airing Things Out
Things get stagnant in the basement, as usual. If you have the luxury of having windows down there, by all means use them. Open them frequently, and air things out. You'd be surprised at how much you actually need to do that. Have plenty of plants around if you can, as plants provide oxygen. In the summer, if you don't have air conditioning, being in the basement is not a bad thing. Somedays (really hot ones) you might need the assistance of an oscillating fan, but not very often.
