Moisture usually exists in two states in your home: liquid and vapor (or gas). Hopefully, your insulation, thresholds, and windows have done their job to keep the liquid out so that your only water source exists in your sinks, toilets, and bathtubs or showers. In the same way, if your air conditioning system has done its job, then the vapor will be kept at a manageable level as well. What if they do not though? While the signs of moisture problems are not always obvious in the beginning, usually over time, they become very apparent.
Moisture intrusion in the home comes from many common places. Ineffective door thresholds, leaking windows, dripping pipes, etc. allow water to get places where we do not want it to go. Less obvious are the areas like your floor where water vapor passes up through the concrete from the ground below to get into your home. Water is all around us and our home, and believe it or not, in the proper amounts, it is a necessary stabilizing element in the environment. It is only a problem in excessive amounts, but also a problem when there is not enough…
Several tell tale signs exist to let you know that you have a problem with moisture:
- Discoloration of surfaces
- Dampness to the touch
- Rust or corrosion
- Softness of wooden trims or moldings, esp. change in color or blackness
- Change in form or shape of your flooring
- Musty smells
- Visible mold growth anywhere…
- And many others
While the list above is not comprehensive, it goes a long way in pointing you in the right direction. Excessive moisture can cause many problems if not corrected, and so can not enough moisture, but the problems vary widely. I will tackle the corrections for moisture problems in a later post. In the meantime, check out the link below for a good elaboration of everything I've written so far.
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home from the US EPA
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