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Moisture Problems![]() Within This Page
![]() Why You Should Worry About Moisture ProblemsMoisture problems in Canadian housing are detrimental to our health and to the durability and resale value of our homes. Here's how to solve moisture problems, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Does Your House Have a Problem?Start with a few basic questions:
Why You Should Control Moisture FlowWe must control moisture in all its forms to keep our homes durable and comfortable. Building components and practices such as flashing, roofing and basement damp-proofing successfully protect the home from liquid water. It is equally important to control the movement of water vapour, providing added protection for the house structure and helping to maintain indoor humidity at a comfortable level. Controlling moisture involves three strategies:
Sources of Moisture in the HomeEven if your house has no leaks in the basement or roof and is apparently dry, it can have moisture problems. Where does all the moisture come from? There are a number of major sources that are not always obvious:
Despite all this water produced each day, most older houses have "dry" air in winter to the point where they have to have humidifiers installed. Why? Cold outdoor air cannot carry much water vapour. In older homes, uncontrolled airflow brings colder, drier air indoors and forces the warm, moist household air out through openings in the upper walls and attic. The air quickly escapes through the uninsulated envelope without cooling down enough to cause condensation. When insulation is added, the building exterior becomes much colder. Unless additional protection is provided, water can condense in the building structure. How? Remember that cold air is able to hold much less moisture than warm air. As the warm, moist air cools in the cold outer layers of the building, the water vapour it holds may condense as liquid or, if it is cold enough, as frost. This can reduce the effectiveness of insulation and even cause rot, peeling paint, buckled siding, mould growth and other problems.
More information about moisture How Much Humidity?Humidity levels above 20 percent help prevent dry, sore throats and make the air feel warmer and more comfortable. Moist air also eliminates static electricity in the house and helps to protect plants and preserve your furniture. On the other hand, humidity levels over 40 percent can cause frosting and fogging of windows, staining of walls and ceilings, peeling paint, mould growth and odours. When relative humidity is over 50 percent, airborne diseases become more difficult to control. Condensation on your windows can provide a good indication of the relative humidity. You may, however, want to install a humidity sensor or humidistat to keep more accurate measurements of humidity levels. Keeping the Structure DryUse four strategies to keep the structure dry:
Although less moisture can be moved into the envelope by vapour diffusion than by air leakage, it is still important to provide a vapour barrier. An effective vapour barrier must be the following:
A number of building materials resist vapour diffusion well enough to be used as vapour barriers. These include polyethylene, oil-based paints and special vapour-barrier paints, some insulation materials and exterior-grade plywood. Different materials may act as the vapour barrier in different parts of the house. The same material may work as both an air barrier and a vapour barrier, provided it meets both requirements and is properly installed. Polyethylene sheets and foil-backed gypsum drywall can both combine these functions. To avoid confusion of terms, we refer to a material doing both jobs as an air and vapour barrier. As a general rule, the vapour barrier should be on the warm side of the insulation. In some cases, however, the vapour barrier can be located within the wall or ceiling assembly, provided that at least two thirds of the insulation value of the wall is on the cold side of the vapour barrier. Because this ratio should be adjusted for houses with high interior humidity or for homes in extremely cold climates, it is recommended that you consult a professional builder-renovator, who will apply the specifications outlined in the National Building Code of Canada.
Some wall systems work well with a relatively impermeable insulated sheathing because the interior wall-cavity temperatures are kept high. As a precaution, when retrofitting a wall, always ensure that the interior surfaces are vapour-resistant. Some siding applications have an air space immediately behind the exterior finish to promote drying out of materials that have been soaked by rain or dampness. This air space also provides an escape route for any moisture that has penetrated the wall cavity from the indoors. This type of installation should not be used with insulated siding, as convection in the air space will negate the effect of the insulated backer board on the siding. What to Look For and WherePut on some old clothes and a detective's cap, grab a flashlight and some simple tools, and go through the entire house, both inside and outside, searching for moisture damage and mould growth and their potential causes. Winter is the best time for this inspection, although basements should also be inspected in the summer. You can also do this type of inspection when you're looking to buy a home, particularly if it is an older house. Typical Moisture ProblemsHere are some of the key locations to check:
Checking Your Home's Humidity LevelsKnowing the level of relative humidity (RH) in your home is very useful. Buy or borrow a hygrometer and watch the changes in RH that occur throughout a typical day in different rooms of the house and over the heating season. How to Solve Moisture Problems and Save EnergyThe good news is that many of the measures that you can undertake to solve moisture problems can also save energy, thereby helping to pay for themselves. A number of examples follow. Reduce Moisture Sources Inside the Home![]()
![]() Getting at the source of excess moisture makes more sense than having to rely on a lot of ventilation. Ventilation removes moisture, but it also removes heat. Here are some tips on reducing moisture sources:
Back to Reducing moisture sources Insulating a thermal bridge
Sealing air leakage into attic
Back to Reducing moisture sources Add Insulation to Cold SurfacesAreas that are uninsulated or poorly insulated – such as exterior corners or foundation walls – can be improved with additional insulation. This may be expensive by itself but can be incorporated as part of a renovation. Don't forget to install an air/vapour barrier (usually polyethylene) on the room side of the insulation to prevent hidden condensation behind the insulation.
Back to Reducing moisture sources Reduce Uncontrolled Air LeakageIn the upper part of your house, air leakage outward carries moisture into the attic and wall cavities, causing long-term deterioration. In the lower part of your house, air leakage inward can chill window frames and door sills, causing frost to form. Air leaking in through foundation walls and the floor can be a source of moisture. Seal all cracks, joints and openings for services and around sump pump lids. It's a good strategy to reduce this uncontrolled air leakage and rely more on controlled mechanical ventilation for fresh air. Seal hidden openings into the attic, tighten the attic hatch, weatherstrip and caulk around windows and doors, install gaskets on electrical outlets, caulk baseboards and seal the top of foundations. Back to Reducing moisture sources Install Effective Ventilation SystemsIf indoor humidity levels are high and moisture sources cannot be reduced any further, increase ventilation rates. Ensuring adequate mechanical ventilation is especially important if you are air-sealing your home. Ventilation has the added benefit of improving your home's indoor air quality. Schematic of a ventilation system with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) ![]()
Many older exhaust fans make a lot of noise but don't move much air. Replace these with more efficient units and use them to remove moisture from bathrooms and kitchens. You'll find that they are quieter too. They produce less than 53 decibels (2 sones) when working. Make sure the air is being exhausted to the outdoors and not into your attic. Remember to check the ductwork from the exhaust fan – it's usually hidden in the attic. The best approach is to provide a balanced ventilation system with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). An HRV provides the opportunity for continuous ventilation without wasting a lot of energy by transferring heat from the exhaust air to preheat the fresh air. Three additional points about ventilation are worth noting:
Using an air conditioner on muggy summer days can also help. Back to Reducing moisture sources Clean and Maintain Mechanical EquipmentHumidifiers, dehumidifiers, air-conditioning units and filtration systems can be a source of mould growth. Regular cleaning has the added advantage of improving the equipment's efficiency. Back to Reducing moisture sources Upgrade or Replace WindowsWindows are usually the first place where you notice condensation because they are the coldest surfaces inside the home. New window technology offers improved insulating value and can greatly reduce condensation. But replacing your windows is not your first solution to a moisture problem. Reduce moisture sources before performing costly measures, such as replacing windows.
If you are thinking about replacing deteriorated windows, consider upgrading to high-performance windows, which have special "low-e" coatings and are filled with inert gases such as argon or krypton. The additional cost is usually less than 10 percent, and the energy savings are considerable. If your home's windows are still in good condition, consider installing some type of interior storm-window kit over the entire window and frame during the heating season. This effectively adds a layer of glazing, prevents air leakage, and brings the inner surface of the window closer to warm air currents. Condensation will be reduced or even eliminated, comfort will be improved, and energy bills and drafts will also be reduced. Thin plastic film ("shrink-wrap") kits, which are available at hardware stores, are inexpensive but must be replaced each year. Other systems, such as rigid plastic sheets, are more expensive but can be re-used for several years. If condensation is occurring between the panes of older unsealed windows (for example, a permanent window plus a storm window or two single-glazed slider windows), try sealing the interior unit with weatherstripping. If condensation is occurring between the panes of a sealed double-glazed unit, the unit will eventually have to be replaced. Back to Reducing moisture sources Check for Moisture Entry From Other SourcesYou can trace many moisture sources leading to condensation to factors inside the home. But there are also more obvious sources of water entry. Key areas to check include the following:
Back to Reducing moisture sources Keep the Air CirculatingCondensation and mould growth often occur in out-of-the-way areas such as closets, corners, walls behind furniture, and unused rooms. Increasing air circulation to these areas will warm the cold surfaces and lower local humidity levels, reducing the potential for condensation.
Back to Reducing moisture sources Get Rid of MouldEven if you eliminate condensation and lower humidity levels in your home, existing moulds are likely to persist and continue to release spores. Moulds must be physically removed. Fortunately, this is not a complex or expensive procedure. Use chlorine bleach to clean mouldy surfaces and a mixture of one part chlorine bleach, two parts water and a little detergent to clean nearby surfaces. Leave for 15 minutes and then rinse well. These are harsh mixtures, so use gloves and protective glasses and remember to ventilate well. Badly mildewed carpets, furnishings and books will probably need to be replaced.
Back to Reducing moisture sources Keep Humidity Levels Within a Healthy RangeHealth Canada recommends that your home's relative humidity be kept between 30 and 55 percent in winter. Lower levels aggravate skin allergies and respiratory infections, and higher levels increase the spread of mould, bacteria and viruses. Dust mites spread when the humidity is above 50 percent.
Back to Reducing moisture sources Piggyback!If you are undertaking a major renovation, such as finishing a basement or gutting an interior, don't lose the opportunity to "piggyback" solutions to moisture problems. Some measures – such as adding insulation, a polyethylene air/vapour barrier or a balanced ventilation system – are much easier and less expensive to implement during construction than afterward. Back to Reducing moisture sources Use Dehumidifiers WiselyDehumidifiers are generally not effective in winter, since they can lower humidity levels to between 50 and 60 percent only. However, running a dehumidifier in the basement on muggy summer days can be effective in reducing condensation on foundation walls and floors. Exhausting moist air from the basement may help, unless the replacement air from outside is just as moist. Back to Reducing moisture sources Don't Become a Statistic!If your house has high humidity levels and no obvious moisture sources, it is essential to check fuel-burning equipment – furnaces, water heaters, boilers, fireplaces and wood stoves – for proper venting. A blocked chimney could mean that combustion products, including large amounts of water vapour, are spilling into your house. Along with that moisture come dangerous combustion gases, such as carbon monoxide, which kill more than a dozen Canadians every year. Have heating equipment and venting systems checked by a trained service person. If your moisture remedial work or energy retrofit includes extensive air sealing, ensure that all fuel-burning equipment has an adequate supply of combustion air. Advanced equipment such as high-efficiency furnaces have their own air supplies and exhaust fans. However, conventional equipment may rely on house air for combustion and on "natural draft" to move combustion products up the chimney flue. If starved for air or overpowered by a powerful exhaust fan somewhere else in the house, such equipment can spill combustion gases indoors. Examples of combustion spillage include stains near the vent of a gas water heater, smoke entering the room from a wood-burning fireplace or stove, and pilot lights being blown out. Where Can You Get More Information?Energy Publications From Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency
Air-Leakage Control Available from:
Energy Publications Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Publications
About Your House: Hiring a Contractor Available from:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
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