Addressing And Preventing A Damp House

While dampness inside your home may seem trivial, it can lead to a wide range of problems when left unaddressed. Because of the compounded problems that humidity creates, homeowners need to act sooner rather than later when an issue is found. Below, we’ll briefly go over common areas of concern when it comes to moisture, as well as a few things homeowners can do to address and prevent dampness.

Moisture can become an issue throughout the house, and there are certain areas where it condenses and accumulates more than others. Major problem areas are the dark environments of the basement and crawl space. Leaks from the outdoors can enter into these spaces and go unnoticed. In practically no time at all, mold may start to grow. What’s more, moisture in these locations could cause structural damage if significant or persistent enough.

Other commonly damp areas of the house include the bathrooms and kitchen. As day-to-day activities introduce a lot of water and humidity in these rooms, problems can get out of hand quickly. Whether there’s inadequate ventilation from showering and cooking or poor habits introduce water that sits around for days on end, these rooms need to be examined for water damage and mold more so than others.

When dampness is found, action is needed right away to stop mold. Mold can be dangerous to your household’s health, especially if someone has asthma or allergies. Prolonged exposure to high levels of indoor dampness may even impair lung function and lead to a long list of respiratory symptoms. Babies and children are at a higher risk for health complications from indoor dampness and mold. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, a large percentage of the 300 million cases of worldwide childhood asthma is attributable to these exposure health risks.

What might be done to address these issues or even prevent them from happening? A lot of it comes down to how humidity is handled daily. For instance, if moisture is accumulating in the bathroom and causing mold, the ventilation should be inspected for wear and tear. Certain behaviors should also be modified. Shower fans, open windows and other ways to circulate the air should be employed for each shower and steps taken to properly remove any dampness afterwards.

Along the same lines is repairing any leaks or seepage. Water getting in from the outside could be just as problematic as the moisture from everyday tasks. Homeowners need to examine the exterior — such as gutters and siding — before it leads to cracks in the foundation. Concrete foundations are susceptible to moisture problems and a reliable concrete contractor should be employed to fix any resulting issues. These professionals could also be a big help in preventing future trouble when laying a new foundation.

Want to learn more about the dangers of a damp house? Check out the accompanying resource for further information.

Infographic created by Bartley Corp, a concrete foundation company