Water in your home can come from numerous sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through foundation floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air can hold less moisture. This is why, in chilly weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). Moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.
There are many ways to control moisture in your home:
Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to adding gutters, downspouts, and extensions to keep water away from the foundation. The ground should slope away from the house for a distance of at least six feet. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow. By using infrared technology, we have found leaks around plumbing fixtures such as shower stalls, roof vents, toilets, and sinks. These types of leaks may not be discovered until damage has taken place and pollutants have already grown.
Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to vent moisture to the outside. Vent your clothes dryer to the outside as well. We found in many cases that bathroom vents and dryer vents were vented directly into the attic resulting in mold growth and wood rot due to the high moisture.
Check vents that penetrate the roof to ensure that they are sealed properly. Check the roof for missing, cracked, or damaged singles.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances do not become sources of biological pollutants.
Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
Pay special attention to the carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Carpet over concrete floors can be troublesome because concrete is like a sponge and absorbs moisture, especially around the exterior walls. This is why it is important to make sure you keep water/ moisture away from exterior poured slabs.
In summary, moisture penetration is one of the top claims insurance companies receive from homeowners. In some cases, the damage could have been reduced or prevented if the homeowner had taken preventive measures to eliminate or reduce moisture penetration. Another option for a homeowner is to hire a Certified Home Inspector to perform an annual maintenance review of your property.
Submitted by:
John Schuler, Certified Home Inspector
J & H Home Inspections, LLC
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