Moisture Control & Measurement For Better Indoor Air Quality

The control of moisture inside a building or ones home is highly important. Moisture inside a structure can cause serious issues that initially may not be detected. Moisture can cause floors to buckle or crack, can cause mold & mildew, odors and unhealthy respiratory conditions. Dust Mites love warmth and high levels of humidity and they're also one of the top allergens. IAQ (indoor air quality) is highly related to the level of moisture in ones workplace or home and high moisture readings is also the leading cause of dwelling deterioration. There are many steps one can take to control moisture and ways to measure moisture. This article will briefly describe ways to prevent moisture and measure moisture.

Preventing moisture is simply not always an easy process. A small amount of moisture is healthy as not enough moisture can cause dryness in the skin and also cause poor respiratory conditions. Signs of excessive moisture in a dwelling can be pipes sweating, damp spots on ceilings, moisture on basement walls, ice forming on windows, mold & mildew growth on walls and many other things. Moisture is created by:

• Normal household conditions such as breathing, cooking, bathing, mopping floors and so on. A normal household produces 2-4 gallons of additional water vapor per day in a home from daily activities
• Temperature being kept to low in a home or building
• Poor ventilation
• Poor drainage around your foundation
• Clogged gutters

The following are some ways to prevent moisture:

1. Installing exhaust fans throughout ones home or building can significantly assist in lowering moisture levels in ones dwelling. Exhaust fans should be used when cooking and used when taking a shower.
2. Cloths dryers should be properly vented and always clear the lint from the trap to lower moisture & prevent fires.
3. Gutters should also be maintained as often as possible to assure proper drainage instead of the water sitting causing more moisture.
4. Try to close as much air path leakages from indoor to outdoor. Caulk and use sealants around windows, doors and vents.
5. In the winter if using a humidifier make sure not to close off the room or allow humidity level to get to high.
6. Crawl spaces should be vented well and checked regularly for moisture as this can be a big cause of moisture inside a home. Check often and insulate well.
7. Immediately repair leaky pipes
8. Annual inspections and maintenance of HVAC unit
9. Balance of temperature indoors compared to outdoors. Drastic changes of warmth inside in the winter with the cold outside and vice versa in the summer can cause moisture issues.

Measuring moisture inside a dwelling can be done a few ways. Typically individuals can live comfortably with 25-50 percent humidity and with the temperature between 66-72 degrees. Again the lower the heat or the higher the humidity can all add to the moisture in a dwelling. Humidity levels above 60% do overtime begin to affect ones health. Many tools are available to measure the humidity from consumer tools costing as little as $25 to commercial products costing thousands. A decent tool like the Hygro-Thermometer Pen can be purchased for under a hundred dollars and this tool will simultaneously measure the temperature and humidity.

In summary it is highly important to address any moisture issue inside a dwelling. Proper steps should be taken to control and detect moisture. Proper control of moisture will significantly control any possibility of mold forming inside a dwelling which eventually destroys whatever it may grow on. Likewise by controlling the humidity level you'll also control moisture levels inside a dwelling and live much more comfortably. For further assistance please contact our service team to answer any questions or make any recommendations on chemicals, products or other steps you can take to achieve better indoor air quality with less moisture.