How to address window condensation in the home. Each fall when we turn on our home heating systems, many of us experience condensation on windows: “steam” on the inside, or in extreme cases, water running down the glass. This condition may be only a temporary annoyance, but it could...
moisture
Dehumidifiers
In humid and damp climates a dehumidifier can pull as much as 50 pints of water from the air each day, depending on the size of the system. Keep your dehumidifier’s reservoir clean and dry; don’t let water spill over or stagnate when not in use. A dirty or...
Dealing with Mold After a Flood
Protect Yourself from Mold After natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a...
12 Easy Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry
You can avoid or solve most basement seepage problems by following these simple corrective steps, which are listed in order of priority. Keep gutters and downspouts clean and direct them away from the basement. Downspouts must be routed to a storm sewer or at least 6 feet away from...
Radon
The EPA and organizations nationwide dedicate January as National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to test their homes for radon and get radon problems fixed. Did you know? Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non smokers. Nearly 1 in 15 homes in the U.S....
Basement Seepage
It’s that time of the year again! Unfortunately, heavy spring rains bring water problems to many basements. Basement leaks not only make life miserable for a home owner, but they can weaken the foundation of your home. Basement walls should seal out a moderate amount of water, but few...
Facts About Mold
Molds can be found almost anywhere. Mold can grow on virtually any substance when moisture is present. Outdoors many molds live in the soil and play a key role in the breakdown of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. Without molds we would all be struggling with large amounts...
Efflorescence
Masonry or plaster with white-ish crystallization is called efflorescence. Efflorescence is primarily an appearance problem that occurs with masonry and often plaster. Rarely do these deposits of crystalline salts do any harm to masonry surfaces. In most cases, the efflorescence appears as a white dust or deposit on the...
Cleaning Your Gutters
Clean your gutters. During a rainstorm, gutters route runoff from a very large surface–a home’s roof-to where it can drain away from the house. By doing so, they protect siding, windows, doors, and foundations from water damage and help prevent flooding in basements. To do their job, gutters and...
Ice Dams
They may make for a pretty winter scene, but ice dams are damaging. Ice dams occur when a snow-covered roof over the attic is warmer than the eaves—the overhang of a roof. If the roof is warm, it will cause the snow to melt and run under snow along...
