Tips to Prevent Winter Moisture Problems

1/22/2019 (Permalink)

Tips to Prevent Winter Moisture Problems

During the cold winter months in Indiana, we tend to keep our homes sealed up tight from the elements. As a result, Indiana homes can suffer from moisture build-up and/or dry air. Both of these symptoms can cause problems and damage to your home. In this article, we will focus on the more damaging effects of moisture in the home during the winter months. We will point out areas that are prone to moisture build up and what to do to fix these problems.

Is Your Home Too Humid?

How do you know if there is too much humidity in your home? There are signs that you can look for and smell for. The first sign of excessive moisture is condensation on the exterior doors and windows. Another sign is a musty smell in the home. Does your house smell like a musty basement or crawl space? Are your bathrooms, laundry room, or kitchen smell musty? If you smell a musty odor, there is a good chance you have an excessive moisture problem. That last sign of excessive moisture is mildew and mold growth. Common areas where you might find mildew and/or mold are around windows, in bathrooms, near water pipes, in dark areas of your home, and in your basement.

How to Reduce Moisture & Fix Problem Areas

Seal or Replace Your Windows

If you have condensation around your windows or doors, first make sure that they are closed completely. If you haven’t closed your windows fully, cold air can seep in and condense around the leak. If your windows are badly insulated or leaky, you can replace them or try taping up any drafts. On really bad windows, some people use plastic sheeting to seal the windows during the winter as a temporary fix.

Use a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is a popular choice for many Indiana basements. A dehumidifier will pull the excess moisture out of the air to keep mold and mildew at bay. You can also use a dehumidifier in bathrooms, laundry rooms and other areas where there is excessive moisture. You obviously want to monitor your dehumidifier and adjust it if the air gets too dry. Dry air can also cause damage to your home. The better dehumidifiers have humidistats that you can set to regulate the humidity level.

Improve Airflow

While you can’t open your windows to get fresh air in during the cold winter months, you can keep your ceiling fans on to push and pull the air through the rooms. You can also set your HVAC fan to be always on to help push the air throughout your home. Airflow can help lower the moisture in high-risk areas like basements and bathrooms by blowing the air throughout the home. You can also keep your interior doors open to allow air to move in and out. This is especially important for bathrooms. While bathroom exhaust fans can pull the moisture out of the room when taking showers and baths, leaving the door open can allow any moisture build-up to dissipate into the rest of your home.

Keep Rugs and Floors Dry

With snow and rain, water can be tracked into the home fairly easily. It’s important to make sure you keep doormats and rugs dry and clean. If they get too wet, they can cause mold and mildew to grow under them. Also, if you take off your shoes at the door, make sure you clean up any melted snow each day. It’s best to either throw any wet snow pants, jackets, glove and hats in the dryer when you or your kids come inside.  

Stay Warm and Stay Dry This Winter

Moisture problems are common during the cold, wet, winter months in Indiana. By following the steps above and keeping the floors dry and clean, you can greatly reduce any risks of moisture and water damage. If you should experience water damage or mold damage to your home this winter, it’s important to act quickly to reduce further damage and call the experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West. They have the expertise and equipment to fix the damage and takes steps to prevent it from happening again. Give them a call any time and any day for your fire, water and mold damage problems.