A Homeowners Guide to Keeping Moisture Out of Your Home
As a homeowner, you have enough to worry about. Just when you think your home may finally look like a grocery lane centerfold, the vengeful gods of homeownership may use their wrath to knock you down a peg. Some homeowners may experience a plague of gophers upon their lawns or swarms of termites penetrating their home’s internal organs, while others may experience costly financial burdens such as electrical and appliance mayhem. No matter what the headache, the last thing you need as a homeowner is for your home to feel like a rainforest and smell like it’s Grandparent’s day at your child’s school. The key to keeping these unpleasant images from becoming a reality is to know what type of moisture problems you are dealing with and to prevent moisture from becoming your home’s next costly headache.
There are two types of moisture problems that can occur in your home. The first moisture control problem is insufficient moisture, meaning the air in your home is very dry and will explain why your plants are dying, your nose bleeds every morning, and your cat hates you because every time you touch him you give him a static shock. On the other hand, you could be dealing with too much moisture which is less like your favorite spa sauna and more like being squished between those two large unshowered creatures on the subway. In many cases, the problem is the latter of excessive moisture because it is the most difficult and expensive to deal with. You didn’t think you would get off so easily with just running a few humidifiers and calling it a day did you?
So how can you tell if the peeling paint and sweaty, feverish walls are symptoms of excessive moisture? Condensation on your windows and walls are not the only symptoms. Check your ceilings and walls for damp spots, mold and mildew especially in areas with peeling paint or wallpaper that no longer seems to stick or bubbles. In your attic, check the underside of the roof sheathing for frost or ice as this is also an indication of excessive moisture build up. Whether you have a finished or unfinished basement you probably have some type of exposed piping so check these too for sweating and for a difference in the air of your basement as it will feel heavy, warm, and sticky.
If the above symptoms are what you are experiencing then there is definitely a moisture imbalance within and possibly outside the home. But fear not! Once you understand what creates the imbalance, repairing and controlling the problems are as easy as a little household maintenance or at least whatever your neighbor, brother-in-law, etc. will take in trade to do it for you. There are four factors to consider when creating moisture balance in your home. The first is the source of the moisture. This is the most important factor because it is the most obviously imbalanced but not so obvious to find. However when the source of the moisture is controlled, this is a very cost-effective and productive way to keep your home mold and mildew free and keep you from having to replace walls, windows and treatments. In many cases there are multiple sources of moisture building up within the home so the best way to find them is to go from one end of your home to the other fixing any leaky pipes, re-calking shower stalls, checking your dryer’s ventilation pipe for leaks and reducing moisture from activities such as taking very long, hot showers or cooking in an enclosed kitchen. The next factor to consider is temperature which creates moisture problems when warm air meets cold air or surfaces too quickly. Insulating cold surfaces and installing vapor barriers will reduce the drastic temperature changes and condensation patterns. The third factor is the moisture transfer rate or how far the moisture can travel through your home. To remedy this issue, seal any air leaks you find in the home and weatherize before insulating. You should also use vapor barriers in attic crawl spaces and check exterior surfaces of the home and garage for leaks and areas where water can build up and puddle and treat any outdoor wood surfaces with water sealant to promote moisture resistance. The last factor is the circulation-ventilation rate or how quickly the moisture is produced and removed through ventilation. To combat moisture in this area, make sure all vents are the proper size and fit, located in an area that promotes good ventilation and installed with materials that can breathe in cooler moisture resistant surfaces. Using spot ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms where high moisture build up can be an issue will help reduce moisture and aid in keeping the rooms the proper temperature for the season. You can also use ceiling fans or small economical fans to move internal air around through the house to maintain the true temperature of the house and reduce moisture.
Attics and basements are the usual suspects for moisture buildup in the home so after the laundry list from above is completed you can do a few more short term things to get rid of moisture. Investing in exhaust fans for basement laundry rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens will significantly reduce the moisture content of the room as these rooms tend to build up the most moisture due to everyday family life and will severely unbalance your home’s moisture mojo. Dehumidifiers are also good investments for swampy basements and attics or storage spaces that are not ventilated. A dehumidifier will reduce the moisture and prevent the development of mold and mildew.
There you have it folks, some very simple and for the most part, very affordable ways to keep moisture out of your home and repair the damage done. Taking prevention measures and repairing existing problems before they get too messy will save you a lot of money and headache as you work to create your dream home. So grab a partner, promise them some beer and wings (after they do some work of course) and sally forth into the moisture prevention adventure!
Resources:
Similar Posts:
- 10 Homeowners DIY Renovation Nightmare Stories
- How Save on Purchasing Condo Insurance
- Aon Benfield and FMB launch latent defects insurance product
- The Trouble with Trouble
- Pros and Cons of Home Ownership
