You often hear about how moisture in your home can damage the structure and cause harmful mold to grow. You often hear about how moisture in your home can damage the structure and cause harmful mold to grow. Your personal health and the value of your home depend on being able to monitor the amount of moisture that gets into your house or business facility. You can prevent a lot of moisture problems by learning the key factors in controlling moisture invasion.

Where Does all this Moisture Come From?

Moisture in the air is called vapor. This comes into your home through any opening, from windows and doors to tiny cracks in the structure. Liquid moisture comes in via overflowing toilets, leaky pipes or even the condensation from just taking a shower.

Condensation can create problems no matter what part of the country you live in. Areas of high humidity generally have a more difficult time with moisture control, but this too can be prevented. San Francisco may not have as much of a problem along these lines as Miami, but since it is a city near the ocean, humidity is still a problem.

Controlling Moisture in Your Home

The only effective way to control any moisture problems is to identify and eliminate sources of excess moisture. Find where your moisture may come from by checking your plumbing. Any leaks should be noted. If you have standing water anywhere in a basement, that is a sign of trouble.

Here are some other areas to check:

- Washing machine hoses

- Water heaters

- Shower tiles

- Air conditioning units

- Window frames and sills

Fix any broken pipes, repair faulty air conditioners, dish washers or water heaters. Caulk any spots where you find cracks or crevices. Once done with all this, you should now have prevented as much moisture coming in as possible.

Now you will need to dry out any dampness. You can dry your home space by turning on the heat and running it for some time. This draws out moisture that has collected in your furniture and on surfaces of walls or ceilings. Follow this up with turning on your air conditioner. Set at a low temperature and let it run for 2 or 3 hours. You can repeat this cycle as needed.

Getting Rid of any Mold Incursion

In doing your inspection step, you may have found places where mold growth is occurring. This can be dangerous to the inhabitants of your home, as mold spores in the air can be inhaled and are known to contribute to respiratory problems.

Mold is not something you should tackle on your own. If the type of mold growing is of particular qualities, it can actually be dangerous to try and remove it yourself. It’s best to call a mold removal company.