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Controlling high humidity in your house

This page deals with controlling excess of home's humidity caused by bad drainage and also strategies involving house's vents, heating devices, clothes dryers, etc.

See, for other related information:
Basics on Humidity
Dry home air and Humidifiers
Controlling home's high levels of humidity
Moisture and insulation
Mechanical ventilation: HEV and HRV
Natural Ventilation: cross and stack
Bathroom Exhaust fans



Wet building materials are a cause of moisture

When building your home, be aware with the humidity present in timber and other construction materials. Some moisture problems have their origins in the use of wetted building materials.

Building materials should be kept dry during construction and materials that are damp or wet for 48 hours or more should be discarded.
 

Bad drainage: a major structural cause of high humidity levels

Bad drainage is often a cause of moisture and high levels of humidity. To solve drainage problems, you should implement:

- Sloped roofs

- Sloped intake plenum: in order to eliminate the eventual intake of rain or snow...

- Adequate ground slope: ground next to your house should slope away from the foundation to prevent pooling of water next to the building.

- Sufficient overhang in exterior entries: covered entries and air intakes of your house should have sufficient overhang to avoid moisture, rain or snow from being blown into it.

- Well cleared and opened gutters and downspouts.


Controlling indoor humidity

There are many ways of controlling high indoor humidity. Some are simple, but others may demand structural modifications in your home. It all depends on the origins and causes of your particular problems.

Here are some practical tips on controlling indoor humidity:

- Whenever possible, increase ventilation and air movement by opening doors and/or windows.

- If you use a clothes dryer, make sure that it is properly vented to the outdoors. If you do not use a clothes dryer, then dry your clothes outdoors (do not hang them inside for drying).

- Stoves and kerosene heaters should also be vented to the outside, if possible

- Use vent fans in your kitchen and in bathrooms (and other places where water vapor is created).

- Cover cold surfaces - cold water pipes, for instance - with insulation.

- If practical, whenever cooking or running the dishwasher, use exhaust fans or open windows…

- Keep air conditioning drip pans clean; and keep drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.

- Improve the drainage concerning your home. See Drainage strategies

- Improve your house’s insulation and ventilation

- Repair eventual leaking outdoor faucets and clean roof gutters regularly.

- Use air conditioners and/or dehumidifiers when needed.


See also:
Basics on Humidity
Dry home air and Humidifiers
Controlling home's high levels of humidity
Moisture and insulation
Mechanical ventilation: HEV and HRV
Natural Ventilation: cross and stack



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