Ask RCW
Ask RCW
During the winter the humidity level in a home has to be balanced. When the air is too dry, people complain of dryness, static electricity and wood floors and furniture start to separate and crack.
When it’s too humid indoors, moisture condenses on cold surfaces like condensation on windows. The perfect compromise is to have humidity levels between 30 and 40 percent during the winter. The simplest solution to having moist air is improving air circulation to cool surfaces.
• Pull back drapes to warm up the windows, open closet doors, move furniture away from exterior walls and increase the temperature to problem areas.
• The next step is to reduce the humidity level in your home and find where you have excess water. Check for leaks and water damage under sinks, around tubs and showers. Look for damp areas or water stains.
• Make sure your dryer vents to the outside and keep showers and baths short. Cover pots and pans while cooking and avoid keeping firewood inside.
• Use ventilation fans while taking a shower or bath and while cooking. Run vents for at least 20 minutes when done making steam. It may take a while to see results of decreased humidity because moisture is stored in the home’s wood and trim during summer months when warm air holds more moisture.
• Inspect the walls and ceilings for damp areas that may point to a roof leak. If you have large icicles hanging from eaves, that may indicate an ice dam. When snow melts it may back up behind the ice dam and seep into the attic.
• To prevent water damage from an ice dam, clear snow from the roof a few feet from the eaves. To minimize the creation of an ice dam, keep warm air from trickling into the attic with better insulation in the home. Make sure you have a good source of ventilation in the attic to push out any warm air that seeps in.
• Basements can be a major source of moisture. Stains on basement walls could indicate moisture that has soaked through the foundation and evaporated. Put a piece of clear plastic tape on the basement wall or floor and check it within 24 hours to see if it’s wet.
If your steps to remove moisture from your home are unsuccessful, contact R.C. White for recommendations.
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