Moisture buildup could mean poor indoor air quality. Just look at what happens when you take a shower: the hot water from the shower heats up and moistens the air. When the warm, moist air comes into contact with the much cooler surface of a mirror, the temperature differential causes moisture to condense onto the mirror’s surface where it become becomes a liquid. The same thing happens in houses and other structures we occupy: moisture condenses inside one or more of the walls, in crawl spaces and attics. Then, because you can’t wipe off the moisture, it builds up and causes wood rot and mold growth.
Other challenges to maintaining good indoor air quality include the people and pets that live or work in the building: they produce moisture when they breath, eat and perspire. In fact, a typical family adds about three gallons of water per day to their indoor home environment.
Over the past few decades, builders have learned a great deal about how to minimize moisture buildup in buildings. Unfortunately, construction costs have been high, so budgets haven’t allowed builders to absorb the cost of better construction techniques: techniques that might reduce or eliminate uncontrolled airflow and indoor air quality problems in the future.
In other words, it’s up to the homeowner to minimize the chance of water entering their buildings and producing air quality problems. First, they should keep their roofs in good condition and make certain they have adequate air circulation by installing a good ventilator. They should also check to see if crawl spaces have adequate ventilation.
Other important steps include making sure that their clothes dryer is properly vented to the outside. Closed off or obstructed vents can cause the dryer’s moisture to enter the living space, causing mold growth and unsafe air quality. Roof gutters and drains should also be kept clear of debris to allow water to drain away from the house or building. In addition, kitchen and bathroom vents should lead directly outside and caulking and flashing around windows, doors, tubs, and showers should be inspected and sealed, if necessary.
Homeowners should not wait until poor ventilation causes moisture problems that lead to structural degradation or health issues. They should be proactive by repairing leaks and clogs and they should install ventilation solutions that reduce or eliminate indoor air quality problems before they begin.
It will save money and make their families more comfortable and healthier. As the old saying goes, an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.