The Importance of Protecting Your Home from High Humidity

Homes that are subjected to high levels of humidity over a long period of time can suffer serious damage, which often requires expensive repairs. There are other times when repairs just aren’t possible if the humidity is left unchecked for years without taking precautions to keep the air within a range of less than 60%.

 

While there are countries that have high rates of humidity due to warm, tropical air, the UK sees more than its fair share of rain each year, which is also a factor in the amount you will need to counteract in your home. Whether you intend to live in your home for many years or would like to sell it in good condition to get a decent asking price, there are some very important things you need to know about how humidity can impact future plans.

Why Is Excess Humidity a Problem?

Most people know that mould and mildew can be the ultimate cause of a huge number of physical ailments, typically in the respiratory system, but an equally large number of homeowners don’t understand exactly where that mould and mildew comes from. Over time, if left to accumulate, moisture in the air will provide the breeding ground for mould and mildew. This is where it comes from. However, most people have it wrong!

That water which is building up in your basement or between the walls or in the loft isn’t from leaks in your roof much of the time; it’s from humidity that is building up in the air you breathe! Not only can an excess of moisture in the air lead to mould that causes or exacerbates physical ailments, that same humidity can do structural damage to the home! At this point you will probably want to read this dehumidifier review guide to see exactly how you can significantly reduce moisture in the air within your home and also take some time to learn about what that humidity is actually doing to the walls around you!

Mould Is Only One Problem Resulting from Excess Humidity

Actually, from the foundation up to the timbers in your loft, an excess of moisture can cause swelling, buckling, cracking, and of course the mould mentioned above. If you ever hope to sell your home at a profit, you will have to deal with excess atmospheric moisture in the home before it can do any real damage. A good quality humidifier can keep moisture to that acceptable level under 60%, but you really need to act quickly once you realize there is a problem.

Mould is often very difficult and expensive to eradicate, so because of this, homeowners are advised from the moment they purchase their homes to buy one of the best hygrometer on the market. It is imperative that you keep humidity to acceptable levels or the damage may be difficult to repair. The weather man can tell you levels at checkpoints where weather stations are located, but they cannot tell you what the humidity level is in your home. Cooking, boilers and showers all can affect your home and this is why it is up to you to monitor and keep humidity in check. Your home and health depend on it.