Science confirms that too much moisture inside a home is not good for the health of everyone living inside that house. Respiratory problems, allergies, heart conditions and chronic coughs are just a few of the conditions associated with living in damp homes. They’re caused not by the moisture itself but also by the things that moisture promotes e.g. mould and mildew.
It all becomes worse in winter when we close the doors and windows of our homes and all that moisture we produce is trapped inside. When that happens, we start to notice the symptoms of too much moisture including condensation that literally runs down the windows during winter, mildew in the bathroom, mould on interior surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom closets, and even peeling or blistering paint on both exterior or interior walls and finishes.
Home Ventilation Specialists
As specialists in home ventilation systems and heat pump installation in Auckland, we can make homes much drier. In collaboration, ventilation systems and heat pumps are highly effective but you can help them work even better by controlling the sources of moisture in your home. For example, drying clothes inside can add five litres of moisture per load when using an unvented clothes dryer. A ventilation system will be great in managing this moisture but using the fastest spin speed on your washing machine will take more water out of the clothing and reduce the amount of moisture in the first place. Cooking adds up to three litres of moisture a day, so pot lids that contain steam and a range-hood that vents outside your home will help your ventilation system work even more effectively. Finally, showers and baths add up to 1.5 litres per person, per day to your home’s moisture content, so an extractor fan is virtually essential in the bathroom.
While these sources of moisture are well known, there are others that are not so obvious:
- Stored firewood
- Plants
- Gas appliances
- Plumbing leaks
- Water seeping through basement floors
All of these moisture sources reduce indoor air quality to a significant degree, and it is even worse in winter when there’s little opportunity for us to open doors and windows and let damp air escape. So while there are some things you can do to reduce excess moisture, as we’ve mentioned above, a good quality ventilation system working alongside a modern heat pump is by far the easiest way to ensure a warmer and drier home this winter.
