Why Should I Worry About Moisture Problems?
“I can’t see through these windows!”
— Winter-long condensation and frost on windows is annoying and can damage the window frame and wall below.
“Our basement smells like . . . a basement.”
— Musty odours are a symptom of dampness and mould growth. A flood, sewer backup or burst plumbing can lead to many hidden moisture problems, even after the mess has been cleaned up.
“Wheeze . . .”
— Large-scale health surveys in Canada and other countries have confirmed a strong correlation between dampness and mould and respiratory disease in children.
“Can’t we lower these energy bills?”
— Moisture problems are often associated with cold surfaces and air leakage, both of which
mean excessive heat loss and high energy bills.
“Why aren’t we getting any offers?”
— Home buyers will shy away from a house with moisture problems, even if they are minor. Resale value will be lower.
Does My House Have a Problem?
Start with a few basic questions:
- Is there persistent mould growth?
- Are there musty smells, particularly in the basement?
- Are windows fogged up or frosted up through much of the winter?
- Is there evidence of moisture deterioration – rotting wood, soft drywall, buckled siding or spalling bricks?
- Does frost build up in the attic?
- Has basement flooding ever occurred?
- Are humidity levels often above 55 percent in the winter?
What to Look For and Where
Put on some old clothes and a detective’s cap, grab a flashlight and some simple tools, and go through the entire house, both inside and outside, searching for moisture damage and mould growth and their potential causes. Winter is the best time for this inspection, although basements should also be inspected in the summer. You can also do this type of inspection when you’re looking to buy a home, particularly if it is an older house.
Checking your home’s humidity levels
Knowing the level of relative humidity (R.H.) in your home is very useful. Buy or borrow a hygrometer and watch the changes in R.H. that occur throughout a typical day in different rooms of the house and over the heating season.
Typical moisture problems
Here are some of the key locations to check:
1) mould, frost or wet insulation or wood in attic
2) mould in the bathroom
3) frost on door sills
4) damp basement walls
5) water on basement floor
6) mould behind furniture and stored items
7) frost on window frames
8) peeling paint, deteriorating siding or
9) efflorescence on bricks
10) mould in corners
11) wall damage and wet carpets below windows
12) condensation or frost on windows
13) mould in closets
14) sagging or stained ceilings
To be continued January 25, 2012
