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Molds, mildew and fungi are some of the main biological pollutants
inside the home, leading to many health problems. Mold and mildew are
generated in moist environments within the home and release spores into
the air. A common area to find mold is in your indoor central air
conditioning air handler or furnace. Conditions are ideal for mold
growth around the indoor coil. A dark, wet location like this is a
breeding ground for molds and by attaching ductwork and a fan to it you
can effectively distribute mold and spores throughout the house. Proper
scheduled maintenance of the air conditioning system is
important to keep this problem to a minimum. High humidity levels that
are in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and basements, can lead to
mold and mildew growth.
Control
is the Solution
Aside from eliminating
potentially life threaten gases, toxins, bacteria’s and viruses from
your homes environment, proper humidity control is probably the single
most important aspect of maintaining good indoor air quality. An indoor
relative humidity level maintained between 30 – 45 % is generally
considered ideal for people and their living environment. Maintaining
these humidity levels though can often be difficult especially during
summer and winter months. Knowing what the indoor relative humidity is
can also be difficult because people are bad judges of humidity levels
at this range. Having a digital hygrometer to measure
relative humidity levels is an important aspect of control.
Too
Little Humidity
Low humidity levels indoors
most often occur during winter months. Cold air has much less ability to
retain moisture than warm air therefore cold outdoor air can be very
dry. Most modern tighter constructed homes are not affected by dry
outside air because they are less leaky and hold inside air longer.
Normal household functions such as cooking, bathing, laundry and
exercising can create a lot of moisture and will be held in the house
longer. A house that is leaky will loose the warm moist air from inside
more rapidly. Cold dry air will then come in to replace it, leaving the
house dry and uncomfortable.
What
are the signs?
-
Humidity levels below 25%
-
Dry sinus and nasal
passages
-
Chapped dry skin
-
Static shock when touching
indoor objects
-
Shrinkage of furniture or
building materials, floors, walls, doors and trim molding
Corrective
Actions
Eliminate excess air
leakage in your home. This not only helps humidity levels but
also makes the home more comfortable and energy efficient. During cold
winter months a leaky house will loose warm moist air through
uncontrolled leakage points. For every CFM (cubic feet per minute) of
warm moist air lost an equal amount of cold dry air will come in to
replace it, leaving your house dry and uncomfortable.
Finding and eliminating these
leakage points is the first step toward correcting the house and
humidity levels but it is sometimes not always practical or cost
effective. When this is the case a quality humidifier can
be installed to the central forced air heating system that will put back
the moisture, which has been lost.
Contact us
today to arrange an appointment to find out which corrective action is
best for you, or to order a digital hygrometer that will
let you monitor what the humidity levels are in your home.
Too
Much Humidity
High relative levels (50% and
above) more often occur during the summer months but in some houses can
be found year round. Tighter homes have a greater ability to retain air,
and with any common moisture source, levels can easily exceed 50%.
Bathing and cooking alone, without the use of proper ventilation, can
easily cause elevated humidity levels.
With humidity levels above
50% dust mites will flourish and reproduce. With levels above 70% molds
and mildew will grow. In either case elevated humidity levels can result
in serious medical and building degradation problems.
What
are the Signs?
Dust mite and mold allergies
to include symptoms of; watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nasal
congestion, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing,
headaches, dizziness and fatigue.
Corrective
Actions
Eliminate all problem
moisture sources in and around the home to include:
-
Bulk moisture removal
(insure proper drainage and rainwater diversion around the home.)
-
Stopping persistent
plumbing leaks.
-
Maintain proper ventilation
in bathroom and cooking areas.
-
Installation of a proper
vapor retarder in crawlspaces.
Once all problem sources of moisture have been eliminated the last steps
to take are to have your air conditioning system serviced regularly with
scheduled maintenance and installing a quality
dehumidifier.
Contact us today to arrange
an appointment to find out which corrective action is best for you.
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