Before examining the problems moisture causes we should examine where this
moisture comes from. Each of us will produce approximately 2.5 litres per
day of moisture through normal household activities - cooking, washing, showering,
and even breathing. Add to this the fact that "flue-less" gas heaters can produce
up to two litres of moisture for every litre of gas burnt, and it soon adds up.
This problem is compounded in summer. New Zealanders tend to open their homes
up in summer in order to keep cool. In many cases the humidity outside in
summer can be higher than that inside. This means that when summer humidity
is high this moisture is often absorbed into our homes.
The other problem we face is one called "developed country" syndrome.
This is experienced by many developed nations that have warm comfortable homes
that are well insulated, carpeted, and Airtight. Our homes literally don't "breathe".
So where does all this moisture go?
It is absorbed into our wall linings, bedding, furnishings and clothing.
Come winter and the colder weather and we start to see evidence of this moisture.
The best example of this is on our windows. If the temperature inside is warm and
humidity levels are high, condensation will appear on the windows which are colder.
On really cold nights this condensation can be dramatic with water running down the
window, and accumulating on the sills, walls and floors of our homes. Other noticeable
evidence of dampness is a cold, musty smell in rooms, mildew in wardrobes and on
curtains, and damage to wall linings, peeling wallpaper and rotting timber!
This all sounds very serious and it is. Repairs to structural timber, new curtains
and damaged furnishings and appliances are expensive to replace. For most people
these are the visible signs and consequences of moisture in our homes and are
sufficient motivation to attempt a solution.
But the problems don't end there! There is another, perhaps more serious
consequence of moisture in our homes - that of the effect on our health.
The health issues are varied. The two main problems are Asthma and Allergies.
There is now a known link between Asthma and the prevalence of Dust Mites in our homes.
So what does this have to do with moisture?
Dust mites thrive in conditions of high humidity. In fact they require a
direct water intake from their environment in order to survive and prosper.
Therefore if we are able to control the level of humidity in our homes we are
much more effective in reducing dust mite activity. If we can slow down dust
mite activity we can help decrease the risk of Asthma and some allergies.
For more information on Dust Mites and Allergies/Asthma refer to the
Allergy/Asthma link on this page.
So what is the solution to controlling the moisture in our homes?
Many people believe that insulation and ventilation will solve the
problem. These measures will help, but they wont solve the problem.
Take a typical home in winter. Insulation has retained much of the heat
generated by our heating devices. As well as retaining the heat the
moisture has also been retained and as a result humidity levels are high.
As soon as the temperature drops condensation occurs. So heating and insulation
are not the answer.
What about ventilation?
Again, this will help but will not solve the problem. When we expel the warm,
moist air we lose a great deal of the heat that has been produced by our heating
appliances. As well as this cold, often moist air from outside is circulated.
This cold air from outside can also cool surfaces such as glass which will speed
up the condensation process! This in turn means we need to reheat this cold air
to stay warm - and the cycle begins again. Some ventilation is recommended - such
as venting clothed dryers, and use of fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove
moisture generated by cooking and bathing.
One of the most effective ways of reducing moisture levels in our homes is a
dehumidifier. The advantages are that moisture levels can be reduced and then
maintained to a desired level, without being hugely expensive and invasive. A
further advantage is that reducing the amount of moisture in the air results in
lower heating bills as dry air is easier to heat than moist air!
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