A Common Cure for Condensation in Your Home

No one likes to find condensation in their home, but we have some simple solutions on how to control condensation if you find it.

Simply put, condensation comes from the amount of moisture in the air inside your home known as humidity. There are a number of factors that contribute to condensation, but using steam while cooking, the number of showers you take (and the temperature of the water), the amount of laundry you do and how often you run your exhaust fans are just a few.

Humidity becomes condensation when the warm air in your home comes in contact with a cool surface. Windows being the primary source but ventilation ducts that carry warm air to cooler exteriors passing thru an attic or a concrete slab, are good examples. If you live in a concrete building it’s likely that any of the vents have concrete encased ductwork and during the cooler months you may notice water dripping from them. This is fairly normal as the warm air from inside the home comes in contact with the cold exterior concrete and air outside.

In a wood frame building, the duct work may travel thru floor spaces, drop ceilings and attic spaces. If the space is unheated the duct work will be insulated but it’s still subject to condensation. It’s not uncommon to have some condensation form on the windows thru the night when temperatures drop and if handled properly, will dissipate during the day.

Fortunately, those of you who own a new home are lucky. New homes are built with timer controls that are programmed to run the bathroom fan for two, 4-hour periods every day. This is done because new homes are constructed to be fairly airtight and air movement is essential.

Listed below are my top 10 tips that I follow to help prevent condensation in my home:

1. Check the fan timer to make sure it runs for a minimum two, 4-hour periods every day. Remember the more air flow thru the home the better.
2. Run the bathroom fan at least ½ hour after showering. So, if two people take showers, run the fan for 1 hour. If you’re not home to monitor this, then have a timer switch installed to regulate running times.
3. Shorter showers, means less humidity in the air.
4. Open and lift drapes and blinds to allow air flow to the windows. Adding a fan to circulate air may sometimes be required and remove clutter from the window sill.
5. Open windows slightly allowing fresh air into the home.
6. Maintain a temperature in your home between 19^o – 22^o is recommended.
7. Limit the amount of laundry that is hung to dry in the home.
8. Make sure the lint collector on the dryer is cleaned prior to and after each use. If the home is equipped with a booster fan, make sure it is operational and clear of obstruction.
9. Ensure bathroom fans are cleaned on an annual basis to maximize performance.
10. When cooking, use the exhaust fan above the cook top especially with steamy cooking.

For more information, you can click here to view the Homeowner Protection Office`s newsletter on Avoiding Condensation Problems.