A major issue for homeowners, especially as the colder seasons approach, is trapped humidity causing dampness to spread through their homes and cause quite a havoc. It depends on the maintenance of your home and if it was not maintained well, the problem will be more common for you. Moisture is meant to be kept in the room as condensation and because it’s not, the moisture passes from room to room and will seep into the internal and external parts of the home.
Maybe a part of you isn’t quite sure why dampness is a problem for your home but the reason it can grow to be incredibly problematic is because too much moisture can lead to mold which can affect your health. If you’re not sure what mold may look like in your home, it can come in the form of black spots on your surfaces, damp wallpapers or a steady build of condensation. Your home may also have a slight smell to it which indicates that the mold has grown pretty rapidly in your home.
Mold spores can enter your body through inhalation or ingestion and also if it comes into contact with your skin. It depends on how sensitive you are to the mold to see how it will truly affect you and your health. Exposure to it can cause effects such as coughing and wheezing, skin irritation and throat irritation along with quite a few other health concerns. Because of what it can do, it’s best to help create an environment that has damp proofing. This way you can ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.
One of the most important you can do to prevent dampness in your home is to have a great ventilation system. The majority of the time, people tend to keep their windows shut, especially when the colder temperature comes in. The problem with that is there is nowhere for the moisture to escape and now it’s settling in your home and has time to build on the areas of your home.
When it comes to ventilation, it may be best for you to install double-paned windows if you don’t have any already. The double layers of glass can help improve the insulation of the room and can help with damp proofing your home.
Another thing that may help when it comes to preventing moisture in your home is to get a dehumidifier. If you’re unsure of what they actually do, dehumidifiers help suck in the air that has settled in the room and collects the water into a small bucket which you can eventually dispose of. There are different types of dehumidifiers such as small ones and portable ones which are great if you have limited space or you’d like to move it to multiple rooms. Dehumidifiers can also help if you tend to dry your clothes indoors as it will suck the damp air in and prevent any moisture from the building.
When it comes to moisture in your home, one of the most important things you have to keep in mind is that you have to make sure that you keep wiping down any water that collects in your home. Maybe your home has no smell or any sights of mold and so you think that you can just skip this sometimes tedious step but doing that can provide consequences in the long run. Just because it may not be noticeable does not mean it’s not there. Mold can be hidden away until it’s almost too late to do anything about it. Make sure you don’t slack on wiping down your surfaces if your house is prone to collecting water. A quick wipe down will be more than efficient and if for some reason it tends to be a bit more stubborn, using a bit of mold spray can help out with that.
If you seem to have a greater problem with the dampness of your home in the winter, it may help to crank up your heat when it’s combined with ventilation. You’ll want to turn the heat to a lower level to ensure that there is no drastic change in the home. Doing this will help prevent the moisture from collecting as the heat will help reduce condensation in the home over time.
If you still are having a problem with moisture in your home no matter what you seem to do, you may need to call a professional. Sometimes the dampness has spread too far and the mold has overtaken areas of the home that you can’t even see. Hiring a professional service will help with preventing the moisture problem as they will take measures to make sure that it doesn’t happen anymore.
Preventing moisture in your home doesn’t have to be difficult. As long as you have excellent ventilation and have a dehumidifier, you can prevent the majority of the problem. While you may be more prone to it if you have an older home, especially in the winter, it’s still preventable. Remember to never slack on taking care of the condensation in your home or you’ll suffer the consequences later in time. Keeping on top of it will guarantee that your home will be free of any dampness and it will protect you and your family from the health concerns of mold and any other things that may come along with a damp home.
