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April 2004 - Solving Moisture Problems

ADVISORY CONCERN
Solving Moisture Problems

REDUCE MOISTURE SOURCES

Dealing promptly with obvious sources of moisture.
Repairing plumbing leaks
Fixing leaky roofs
Ensuring that gutters are properly drained away from the house.
Installing a sump pump if the water table is high.
Ensuring that duct work in a dmap basement or crawlspace is properly sealed especially the ducts that return cold air to the furnace.
VENTILATE AREAS WHERE MOISTURE IS PRODUCED

Use the exhaust fan when cooking
Use bathroom fans while showeringand allow them to run for 20 to 30 minutes after showering (installing a timer will make this easier).
Ensure your bathroom and kitchen fans exhaust outside the house
Ensure your furnace, clothes dryer, gas fireplace and and water heater properly vent to the outside and do not spill exhaust back into the house (which is serious safety issue as well).
Watch life-style patterns that contribute to moisture problems:
Avoid drying large amounts of laundry inside the house
Store firewood outside
Keep Basement and crawl space windows closed in the summer time.
WARM UP EXPOSED SURFACES

Warm up walls so moisture does not condense on them
Install dense-pack cellulose in uninsulated or poorly insulated older houses. Insulation will make the walls warmer and prevent interior condensation.
Move furniture and/or add registers from your furnace to improve warm air circulation in the living space.
Open cupboard and closet doors or add louvers to provide extra warm air circulation if there are problems in these areas.
WINDOW CONDENSATION PROBLEMS

Ensure inner windows are properly sealed. Otherwise moist air will leak through to the outer storm window and condense. Check that the windows are closed tightly with sash locks firmly latched. Use plastic film kits on troublesome windows to increase comfort.
Check that warm air is getting to the window. Is furniture blocking warm air registers? Also, open blinds and shades occasionally. Closing blonds and drapes, though a good way to save energy, can worsen condensation problems by cutting off the flow of warm air past the windows.
Consider adding storm windows or replacing your windows with more efficient units, especially if your old windows are single pane or aluminum framed. Efficient windows are much less likely to show condensation because the glass stays warmer. Shop around for units displaying the ENERGY STAR label. These products meet the highest standards of energy efficiency in thier category.
Windows are expensive. Consider window replacement as a part of a whole-house approach to solving all your energy and moisture problems.
PRACTICE PROPER VENTILATION

Ventilation help alleviate moisture problems by getting rid of excess moisture. Either spot ventilation or whole-house approaches can be effective:

Spot Ventilation: Your kitchen and bathroom fans can effectively remove moisture from the home if theyu are vented outside. Make exhaust fans easy to use by wiring them to a switch or a dehumidistat. A dehumidistat measures relative humidity levels and turns on the fan when needed. If you need spot ventilation in other areas, quiet, low-zone fans ducted to the outside are the best choice.
Whole house ventilation: You may want to install a duct system that mixes outside air with air that returns to the furnace. An air-to-air heat exchanger, a more expensive option - captures heat from the air being exhausted. It's a good option for maintaining comfort in homes without a central furnace.
DON'T GO OVERBOARD ON MOISTURE CONTROL:

Be a savvy homeowner when it comes to moisture. Some winter-time condensation on windows in normal, even in an efficient well ventilated home. Not all houses suffer from high relative humidity. In-fact leaky houses can become exceedingly dry in the winter as cold dry air flushes moisture from the home.

Having more moisture in your home will make it more comfortable and healthy. Humidity levels between 20 & 40 percent are normal. Below a relative humidity of about 20% human health suffers because the respiratory system does not operate as efficiently. Low humidity also cause static build-up, warped floors and trim and other problems.

However, running a humidifier or putting pans of water on the stove or your registers is not a good way to solve dry air problems. This can cause moisture to migrate to other locations in your home and cause problems.