Does Your Home in the Kingsway,High Park,Swansea or anywhere else in Toronto Have a Humidity Problem?
We all need a certain amount of humidity inside our homes for our comfort and health. But too much humidity can result in a host of problems, from damage to the house and your furnishings to negative effects on your family's health. Excess humidity is a common problem for homes in the summer - especially in the basement.
There are many signs that your home is suffering from too much humidity, including: moisture condensing on your windows, mold growing on items stored in the basement, window sills showing signs of rotting, a musty smell in the house and stains on ceilings or walls.
The most reliable way to determine if your humidity is too high is to measure it with a hygrometer - a small, inexpensive and easy-to-use tool available at most hardware, department, building supply and electronics stores. In summer, your basement RH (or Relative Humidity) should not exceed 50 per cent.
If your home has a humidity problem we have a variety of tips to help you control the problem before it gets out of hand, including:
- Find and solve water leaks in roofs, walls, windows and foundations.
- Install and operate exhaust fans in the bathroom or kitchen.
- From spring to fall, run a dehumidifier in your basement. While an air conditioning system helps control summer dampness, it is only effective when it is running. A dehumidifier can be needed even in houses with air conditioning systems.
A dehumidifier is often the easiest and most effective solution to a humidity problem. But with so many options available, how do you choose the one that's right for you? When selecting a dehumidifier for your home, make sure to:
- Buy the most energy efficient unit available, such as a highly energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® model.
- Select a model with a low noise level.
- Choose a unit that can operate at a lower temperature.
- Select a unit that will enable you to attach a hose to run the condensate to the floor drain.
Source:CMHC
