What’s the Real Problem?
Moisture in, and around, your home can cause:
Rotting wood – Compromises structure and attract pests.
Ice Dams – Can damage the roof and cause leaks
Frost/water on underside of roof deck
Ceiling and wall stains
Soggy insulation – Lowers R-Value
Condensation or Frost on windowpanes – Can rot wood frames
Mold and mildew in walls, ceilings, floors and around windows – Can cause serious health problems.
How does moisture cause these problems?
Basic physics tells us that water moves from wet to dry areas. Here’s an example: Water in soil seeps into porous dry foundation walls, then moves into the dry basement floor, then wicks into carpet and wood baseboard, etc. Rain or melting ice can do the same starting at the roof and moving down.
Moisture also moves from hot to cold. Water vapor in warm, humid air condenses into liquid on colder surfaces such as windows and walls.
Solving the Problem
New homes can be designed and built with comprehensive weatherproofing systems and humidity controls. It’s a bit harder to fix water problems in an older home built before current technology was in place. The best first step is to hire a Certified Energy Professional who can pinpoint all the causes of moisture problems. She’ll then provide a prioritized ‘Scope of Work’ plan that could include:
Sealing air leaks in walls and ceilings
Adding exhaust fans in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens
Grading soil to slope away from the house
Fixing or adding gutters and downspouts
Adding interior or exterior drain tile at the foundation footing
Fixing water leaks
Improving crawl spaces- Moisture barrier on floor
Adding dehumidifiers
Lowering settings on furnace humidifiers to 35% or below
Let the Energy Pro know about any upcoming plans for remodeling. Weatherproofing can be easier and more cost-effective when walls, ceilings etc. are already opened up.
She will also check for carbon monoxide and other pollutants before and after changes to ensure you and your family are safe.
Next steps
Read the Most Important Step
Find a Certified Energy Professional
Hire the appropriate contractor(s) recommended in the Scope of Work
Get Started
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