Moisture Control for the Winter Months

Moisture control and maintaining a proper humidity level in your home during the winter months is important not only for your comfort, but also for the integrity of your home and your belongings.

Excessive Moisture in Your Home During Winter
Once the winter weather approaches, homeowners tend to maintain indoor comfort by turning up the heat and closing windows and doors for a majority the season. And while closing up your home might prove effective and cost efficient, it also can allow moisture to build up and cause mold and mildew in your home to develop. When the humidity is too high in your home, condensation can accumulate on and around windows. Excessive winter moisture also can build up in basements and corners of small, enclosed areas and bathrooms where moisture already might exist and be trapped. When this happens, stubborn and dangerous mold and mildew can develop.

The Remedy for Excessive Moisture in Your Home
To eliminate the mold and mildew that develops as a result of higher humidity in your home, you will have to either warm the moist surfaces or control the moisture by drying the air inside your home. In the case of a damp bathroom, simply opening a window or using a ceiling exhaust fan to draw out moist air will help reduce excess moisture. In some cases, adding insulation will remedy the problem by helping to regulate the indoor winter temperature. Other remedies include installing a dehumidifier system, and installing moisture barriers in crawl spaces or basements. These solutions are best handled by waterproofing experts as there are various factors involved in properly diagnosing and remedying moisture control issues.

Dry Air in Your Home During Winter
During cold winters your heating system is robbing your home’s inside air of moisture. So while your heater is working hard to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, the humidity is decreasing and diminishing the comfort at the same time. Not only is the dry air uncomfortable, it also can cause wood surfaces in your home to dry and eventually crack.

The Remedy for Dry Air in Your Home
To add humidity to your home during the winter months, a humidifier is ideal. There are basically two types of humidifiers, portable and whole-house units. Several factors will determine how many and what size humidifier will work best for your situation. Your home may require only localized moisture control and portable units. And for homes where the dryness is widespread, a whole-house humidifier would work well and require a bit less daily maintenance than portable units.

If your home is uncomfortable due to moisture control problems, call the experts at Thompson Brothers Exterminating and Waterproofing at 828.245.2669 in Western North Carolina. To set an inspection in Greenville, Spartanburg, or anywhere in the Upstate of South Carolina, please call 864.578.8822.