The Dampness that enters your home may be a result of a variety of sources. It can come into your home through leaks or leaking through the basement floor. Cooking or showers could add moisture to the air inside your home. The amount of moisture the air inside your home can hold is determined by how hot the air is. As temperatures drop the air can be capable of holding less moisture. This is the reason, during cold weather, water condenses upon cold, hard surfaces (for instance droplets of water form on the interior of a window). The moisture may encourage the growth of biological pollutants.
Make use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers especially in humid, hot climates, to lessen the humidity in the air however ensure that the devices themselves aren't a source of biological contaminants.
Increase the temperature of cold surfaces on which condensation of moisture occurs. Utilize storm windows or insulation. (A storm window that is installed on the inside will work better than one that is installed from the exterior.) The doors that are open to rooms (especially doors to closets , which could be colder than rooms) to improve circulation. Circulation transfers heat to cold surfaces. Improve air circulation with fan and moving furniture away from walls to increase the circulation of air and heat. Make sure your home is a fresh source of air that can help remove excessive moisture from the house.
Take care when you walk on concrete flooring. Carpets can absorb moisture and provide an ideal environment for biological pollutants to build up. Rugs that are used for area use can be removed and cleaned regularly. In certain environments, if carpet needs to be laid over concrete floors then it might be necessary to put the water barriers (plastic sheets) to cover the concrete floor and protect it with sub-flooring (insulation which is covered by plywood) to avoid a water issue.
Problems with moisture and solutions vary from one climate to the next. The Northeast is wet and cold The Southwest is dry and hot The South is humid and hot and those in the Western Mountain States are dry and cold. Each of these regions could be affected by moisture issues. For instance, evaporative cooling systems employed in the Southwest can promote an increase in biological contaminants. In other regions that are hot the use of air conditioners that cool the air too fast could prevent those air conditioners operating long enough to eliminate excessive humidity out of the atmosphere. The different types of weatherization and construction that are appropriate for different climates may result in different issues and solutions.
Moisture on Windows
Your humidistat's setting is to high if the excess moisture accumulates on windows or any other cold surface. The excessive humidity over a long time may cause damage to walls particularly when temperatures in the outdoor air are extremely low. In excess moisture, it condenses on window glass because it's cold. Other causes of excess moisture aside from the use of a humidifier include long showers and running water for various purposes, steaming or boiling during cooking, plants and drying your clothes indoors. A tightly sealed home that is energy efficient holds more water inside. You might have to use the bathroom or kitchen ventilating fan at times or open a window for a short time. Caulking around storm windows and windows help keep the glass cooler and help reduce the condensation of moisture that occurs there.
Humidifiers are not suggested to be used in homes that do not have adequate vapor barriers due to the potential for damage due to moisture buildup. Talk to a builder to assess the quality for the protection against vapors installed in your home. Utilize a humidity gauge to gauge the humidity of your home. It is recommended by the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) suggests the following maximum indoor humidity levels.
Read: methods to reduce the amount of the humidity inside your house
