Tips for Handling Humidity and Moisture in a Home
Humidity and moisture issues within your home can be a large pain. Every home in any location can run into these issues and the damaging effects that unwanted extra water can have on certain materials within the home. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have our fair share of humidity being right next to the water.
Here are some tips to help maintain humidity in your home before it becomes a major issue
Get quarterly pest control inspections
This may seem like it is off subject but many pests that take up residence within your home actually thrive in a nice warm and moist environment. One of the first tell-tale signs of a humidity or moisture issue in your home is a bug infestation. It is a good idea to have a professional pest control company examine the areas that pests like to make a home to catch both infestations and any humidity problems as early as possible.
Take Some Steps to condition your crawlspace
If you have a crawl space in your home this portion of your home is often the most likely to hold on to extra water. There are some steps you can take to help prevent your crawlspace from being a collector of moisture. Some of these include installing a plastic vapor barrier on the ground underneath the home to prevent any moisture from coming up into the wood joists and insulation or subfloor.
Humidifiers can be helpful in unfinished basements or crawlspace
Running a dehumidifier will help to pull some of the moisture out of the air in areas of the home most prone to collect it. Drier air in areas like unfinished basements and crawlspaces helps to prevent wood rot, attracting pests, and harmful mold. Dehumidifiers can be expensive but are well worth the cost in preventing even more expensive repair work.
Know your ventilation system and open up vents in warmer months
If you have vents in your crawlspace, it is a good idea to open up the vents surrounding the home during the spring and summer. This is a very important move in areas more prone to damp climates like here in Western Washington. Opening up a vent provides better ventilation and airflow through the crawlspace allowing for moisture to be absorbed and carried out of the home.
Make sure to check in on ductwork and plumbing
These items in your house can be a home for condensation or even leaks and when the systems inside your wall go unnoticed it can cause a very big issue before any signs begin to occur making a big problem even bigger. It is a good idea to inspect the areas of these systems that you can see from areas like your crawlspace as well as install helpful technology that will alert you when a leak is detected or loss of pressure.
Double-check to ensure that your landscaping is properly graded
A common item that causes excess water around a foundation and in basements to create significant damage is landscaping draining in toward a home. This is why it is common for inspectors to check for this when you are purchasing a home.
You want to make sure that the land around your home is allowing for water to be carried away from it. It is good to double-check this when you do your landscaping. It can be a common mistake to build up bark or soil in flower beds and gardens that ends up draining in the wrong direction.
Your Bathroom Vent Fan is Your Friend
One of the most humid rooms in the home is the bathroom during a shower. We all know to run the bathroom fan while the shower is on, but not many of us realize that we should let it continue to run for at least 20 minutes after we get out of the shower to alleviate as much steam in the room as possible.
Additionally, you want to make sure you are checking your vent fans at least once a year to make sure they are clean and working properly.
For more information on purchasing real estate in Snohomish County please contact us anytime.
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