Are you sensing a moisture issue in your home?

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In the summer, we have humidity and warm attics creating dampness and condensation. In the fall and other seasons when we have more precipitation, water can get into our homes from leaky roofs and ceilings and through cracks or holes in the foundation or walls.
Basements are perfect environments for moisture to inhabit due to foundation issues and/or moist air rising from the ground. Moist air can rise up through the home and into the attic, making your insulation wet. Some types of insulation are more prone to holding moisture than others.

And, as we all know, where there’s moisture and wetness, you have the ideal setting for mold growth!

Managing moisture in your home

You can do several things to keep moisture from invading your home, particularly your living spaces.
Air Sealing – It’s usually moist air that gets into the home through the basement, walls and up into the attic that creates moisture issues and mold. When we install insulation anywhere in the home, whether in the basement or attic, we like to air seal any cracks, holes, gaps, pipe penetrations and top plates with a foam sealant. Air sealing not only helps to keep out moist air, but also the cold and heat, helping to improve the home’s thermal protection and energy usage.

Bathroom and Kitchen Venting – Cooking and taking showers create moist air in the home, which usually stays rather than dissipating. The best way to remove it is by ensuring those rooms are well-vented, extracting the moist air and blowing it outside.

Installing a Vapor Barrier in Basement – You want to address the bottom as well as the lid of the home when installing insulation or any solution for achieving thermal balance and dryness. As mentioned, cold, moist air rises easily from the ground. If you have a cool, dampish basement, then that air is rising into your living space. By installing a vapor barrier, particularly one of the state-of-the art products currently available, in your basement and/or crawlspaces, you’ll not only stop that air but also help improve the comfort level on the floors above. You’ll also notice a difference in your home’s air quality!

The Stego Wrap 15-Mil Vapor Barrier protects the concrete slab of the basement from moisture intrusion. Its extremely low permeability effectively prevents against moisture vapor and soil gas transmission with a 20+ year track record of success and a first-of-its-kind Life of the Building Warranty.

Ensuring Your Insulation is Dry – Anything that gets wet and stays wet will grow mold. Some insulation products, such as fiberglass, tend to hold moisture, while others, such as cellulose, can manage it and maintain dryness. If you have older insulation, it may be growing mold due to not only age but also moisture in the air. You’ll want to check your insulation to ensure it’s not creating a moisture, mold or poor air quality situation.

Could you have a moisture issue or air leakage in your home? Could your insulation be harboring moisture and possibly growing mold? Call us for a free home assessment! We can take a look, perform a Blower Door test to determine the air leakage in your home and provide you with strategies for tightening up the home against moisture, heat, cold and potential health issues!

Cool Fact:

Using cellulose insulation, you are being green and reducing your carbon footprint 2 ways: by using an environmentally safe product and cutting energy consumption.

Hot Tip:

Assess the air quality in your home because substances such as mold, allergens and/or formaldehyde may exist and could make family members ill.