Install Effective Ventilation Systems
Why Should I Worry About Moisture Problems?
Does My House Have a Moisture Problem?
Reduce Moisture Sources Inside The Home
Add Insulation To Cold Surfaces
Reduce Uncontrolled Air Leakage
Install Effective Ventilation Systems
Basic Facts About Moulds
Upgrade Or Replace Windows
Check For Moisture Entry From Other Sources
Keep The Air Circulating
Get Rid Of Mould
Basic Facts About Moisture
Keep Humidity Levels Within A Healthy Range
Use Dehumidifiers Wisely
Moisture Problems, Don't Become a Statistic!
If indoor humidity levels are high and moisture sources cannot be reduced any further, increase ventilation rates. Ensuring adequate mechanical ventilation is especially important if you are airtightening your home. Ventilation has the added benefit of improving your home's indoor air quality.
Many older exhaust fans make a lot of noise but don't move much air. Replace these with more efficient (and quieter! That is, they produce less than 53 decibels or 2 sones when working) units and use them to remove moisture from bathrooms and kitchens. Make sure the air is being exhausted to the outdoors and not into your attic! Remember to check the ductwork from the exhaust fan, it's usually hidden in the attic. The best approach is to provide a balanced ventilation system with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). An HRV provides the opportunity for continuous ventilation without wasting a lot of energy by transferring heat from the exhaust air to preheat the fresh air.
Three additional points about ventilation are worth noting:
When outdoor conditions are mild and damp, such as in coastal areas or on a rainy day in the spring, ventilation will not be very effective at removing moisture because the outdoor air is saturated and has little drying potential.
A new house or newly renovated house needs lots of extra ventilation for the first year because construction materials, particularly wood and concrete, will be drying out.
Homes soak up moisture in the summer and gradually release it back into the air in the fall. To assist in drying out your house before the cold weather arrives, provide more ventilation and open up the windows on warm, dry fall days.
The use of air conditioners on muggy summer days can also help.
Schematic of a ventilation system with an HRV
- kitchen
- living room
- bedroom
- cold-air return
- fresh air
- exhaust air
- HRV
- furnace
- bathroom
- laundry
Clean and maintain mechanical equipment
Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air-conditioning units and filtration systems can be a source of mould growth. Regular cleaning has the added advantage of improving the equipment's efficiency.
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