People who own a home go to great lengths to protect it, and to keep its value high. Recent events have made this clearer than ever. If you are homeowner, you’ve likely done some work to maintain the value and safety of your home. Perhaps you’ve even had an insurance agent come by to do and inspection and give you some pointers. However, there is one culprit that is often overlooked when considering home protection. One that can significantly lower the value of your home over time. What is this entity? Humidity.
What kind of damage does humidity do? Well for starters, it can swell wooden furniture over time, and give strange look. Any plaster work you have had done in your house may begin to break down over time. Doors and door frames may begin to not match properly, making them difficult to close without using some force.
Humidity is also the perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and other germs. Mold and mildew can make keeping your kitchen and bathroom clean a nightmare. And allergies can be higher in a high humidity environment as the causes of allergies are generally much more prevalent in humid conditions.
How does the air become so humid, and moist with water? The main source, of course, is the weather, the ambient outdoor humidity. But other sources can contribute just as much, or even more in some cases. Things like clothes driers, frequent hot showers, and extended cooking of stews, or frequent boiling of water can also add a significant amount of moisture to the air. Other things that can add slightly to your home’s humidity are wet clothes, and wet pets.
How do you get rid of humidity? There are plenty of ways. You can keep the windows open in rooms where you are doing activities that are producing humidity. You can arrange your dryer so most of the humidity is channeled outside rather than in your home. You can install fans in your bathrooms, and encourage family members to run them on full speed when they take baths or shower, to keep the humidity from seeping into your house and doing some damage.
One way that many people think is the easiest is to get a dehumidifier for your home. These range from inexpensive, small portable units that can be moved from room to room should the need arise, to large, central units which will dehumidify your entire home at once. These large units, of course, can be expensive, but when you consider the long term benefits of saving your home from extended damage, they can make financial sense. They will not only protect your home from damage, but they will keep you comfortable as well.
Tags: Home Improvement
