Organized Living

Checking for Household Moisture

While indoor air that is too dry can cause nasal and lung irritations that leave people vulnerable to colds, especially in winter, the opposite is also true: too much moisture creates problems of its own in a home, not only for its inhabitants but for the house itself.

Moisture can be sneaky, building up in places over time before it suddenly blooms into a big issue. Check regularly for moisture problems in the following areas to help keep your living space healthy and in tip-top condition. If problems are found, do your home and your health a favor by attending to them immediately.

Basements — Periodically look in the corners, especially, and wherever the walls meet the floor. A “touch test” is best for detecting problems early. Run your hand over concrete walls to check for dampness. Look for dark spots that can indicate seeping from outside sources.

Under Sinks — Every so often, shove aside the cleaning supplies and miscellaneous stuff collecting in the cabinet under your sinks and feel around for any moisture gathering there. Hidden areas can harbor moisture from a slow leak for a long time before being detected, causing mold and even rotting of the cabinet floor.

Windows — If your windows are sweating, check first for cracks, a broken seal, proper fit of the window in the frame, and old or insufficient caulking around the outside frame. If all of those factors check out, the issue is most likely too-high humidity levels inside the home. Make sure you are providing adequate ventilation through the use of exhaust fans in high humidity areas like kitchens, laundry areas and bathrooms to avoid moisture build-up in the walls and wood of your home. Check out attic vents and crawl space vents to ensure they are not blocked; also, they may be too small to be effective. Consult a professional to be sure. Also, certain types of windows—bow and bay windows are examples—are more prone to condensation. Their curved shape restricts air flow and also exposes them to more outside cold air away from the warm house; you can mitigate this problem by installing ceiling fans in rooms with this type of window for increased air flow.

Blistering Paint or Stained Siding — Check for damp or non-existent vapor barriers that can be causing this problem.

In General — Newer home construction produces buildings that are much more air-tight than older homes. While offering the advantage of increased energy efficiency, this can also decrease the natural inflow and outflow of air that used to flow through the tiny spaces and more porous materials of homes built in earlier decades. Homeowners must accommodate this extra humidity with good ventilation. New lumber gives off a great deal of moisture (one reason not to store firewood in your home for any length of time). In fact, during construction phase and the first year or so afterwards, you may have to dehumidify your home to offset the increased humidity.