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Educate Me/Home |
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 Call toll free 1-866-584-0355 or 1-903-759-2160 fax 903-759-4605 309 Patriot Circle, Longview, TX 75604-2240
SOURCES OF MOISTURE:The principal sources of moisture in the typical home are the household activities, which vary with the living habits of the family. Some idea of the quantities of moisture released by these activities in a family of four is given in Table I:IMPORTANCE OF VENTILATION: If a house were completely air tight so that no outside air could enter, the continued addition of moisture to the house air would quickly raise the humidity to the point where condensation would occur. In practice, of course, no home is that tight, and some air will always infiltrate under wind action from outside. In winter such air will tend to lower the humidity within the house. This occurs because cold air holds very little moisture, and when brought into the building displaces and equal volume of heated room air at a much higher moisture content. It is the reduction in ventilation that has been largely responsible for the prevalence of condensation problems in modern homes. Older homes were generally more loosely constructed and the resulting high air leakage rate was sufficient to prevent excessive humidity. Modern homes are small and emphasis on weather-stripping, storm windows, caulking and insulation has led to a much lower natural air leakage rate, with the result that there is a greater tendency toward excessive humidity. But these excessive humidity levels can be prevented by increasing the amount of outside air entering the home. Ventilation is often the only effective means available to the homeowner for removing moisture. Dehumidifiers may also be used, but they are not normally a practical solution. Exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom are useful for drawing off moisture from cooking and bathing activities before the vapor can circulate throughout the house. Windows are normally relied on for general ventilation and whenever possible the windows nearest the source of moisture should be opened. Opening the fireplace damper or opening a basement window as well as a window in a bedroom above are ways of ventilating without creating uncomfortable droughts. Droughts can also be avoided and more positive ventilation assured by installing a special ventilation duct connected to the return air system of the furnace. When outdoor temperatures are moderate rather than very cold, a higher ventilation rate may be required to control humidity to the same level in the house because the outside air at higher temperatures already holds more moisture. This explains why the humidity in houses tend to be higher in spring and fall than in winter, and why in some areas of the country there is a bigger problem and in others not as much of a problem.SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: Condensation will occur on any surface that is below the dew-point temperature of the air in contact with it. In most houses in winter, the inner surfaces of the windows are the coolest surfaces and condensation will usually occur there before it appears on other surfaces. When condensation becomes excessive the moisture load must be decreased or the ventilation rate increased. To reduce the moisture load, humidifiers should be cut off, automatic dryers vented, clothes drying indoors or other activities that produce unusually high quantities of moisture avoided, and the structure checked for other possible moisture sources. Ventilation is generally the most effective means available to the homeowner for reducing humidity and should be obtained by opening windows, operating exhaust fans as soon as significant window condensation appears. |
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