Moisture Control
Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter
your home by leaking or by seeping through basement 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 is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in
cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example,
drops of water form on the inside of a window). This 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
extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should
slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result
from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house.
Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide
a place for biological pollutants to grow.
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 remove moisture
to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer
to the outside.
Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene
heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot,
humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure
that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological
pollutants.
Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses.
Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed
on the inside works better than one installed on the outside.)
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 carpet on concrete floors. Carpet
can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants
to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often.
In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete
floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic
sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring
(insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate
to another. The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is
hot and dry; the South is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain
states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture
problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest
can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other
hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air
too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running
long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types
of construction and weatherization for the different climates
can lead to different problems and solutions.
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