Controlling Moisture Damage to Hearth and Home

Even within newer homes, it is not easy maintaining a balanced climate that is crucial to those living within it while at the same time preserving one’s possessions i.e. computers and TV’s, cellular devices, appliances, and firearms just to name a few from the elements that will diminish their performance. The ideal situation is to store our belongings in an air tight moisture free environment to save them from the ravages of rust and corrosion. The reality is possessing a climate free zone is most likely not an option.

Thus begins a series of articles on how to control moisture and prevent its harmful effects from taking over your pocketbook; providing useful guidelines to assist in avoiding costly moisture damage to home, business, storage and more. Well spent money now will avoid an excess amount of money spent later.

Our first tip is on good air circulation which is critical:

Installing an exhaust fan within a kitchen and bathroom aids in pulling moisture out a room after cooking or bathing reducing the opportunity for mold and mildew.
Using natural ventilation, a strategically placed box fan and an open window can also be used as an adequate substitute which can optimize air flow throughout the entire house.
While open windows or doors are not always a possibility, make sure air intake and exhaust vents are free of clutter that may impede their effectiveness. Also consider replacing old air vents with a vent that allows for greater air flow.
In addition, routinely changing out air filters on your furnace and air conditioner to avoid filtered particles from caking up and preventing air flow through their fans.
A whole house fan system is another option for circulating stale air out of the house through roof vents.
Assess whether air ducts would benefit from a cleaning service provider. This would most likely be under more extreme circumstances such as mold appearing on ductwork, an infestation of vermin within the duct system or the ducts are clogged with an extreme amount of dust and debris that is being pushed back into home. This would also be a good time to make sure your ductwork is sealed tight.
Adding a fresh air intake to your HVAC system’s ducting.
Homes can also benefit from a roof ridge vent or gable vent that will allow the home to breath and exhaust built up moisture as well.

Next up…the difference between adsorbents and absorbents and how they can help you in the fight against moisture. View a complete line of Delta Adsorbents desiccant products for controlling moisture.