Where Does Moisture Come from in a House?

Ideally, you should maintain humidity levels below 50% for comfort but also for the long-term well-being of your home or commercial building, but that’s often easier said than done throughout the Delaware Valley. With that in mind, let’s explore “Where does moisture come from in a house?”, and what you can do about it.

Natural Humidity Levels in a Home

Humidity levels rise in summer because hot air can hold more moisture vapor. If you have your windows open, the humidity level inside the home will normalize with the outside level. If, instead, you run your air conditioner, humidity levels will be lower inside. An air conditioner is not a dehumidifier, but some dehumidification occurs as a byproduct of cooling the home. Your household also generates moisture through your daily activities, such as cooking and doing laundry, but generally, air conditioning should be enough to maintain humidity at a suitable level.

What About a Dehumidifier?

A whole-house dehumidifier is an option and may even be recommended for your home in order to improve comfort and take some of the load off your air conditioner. That said, if you have a humidity problem, you should be asking the question, “Where does moisture come from in a house?”. A dehumidifier only deals with the symptom and not the underlying cause.

What Causes Excess Moisture?

Inadequate ventilation is the top concern when it comes to “Where does moisture come from in a house?”. When your home is sealed up and the AC is running, you need good ventilation in order to deal with the excess moisture from your kitchen and bathrooms. Leaks are a common cause of excess moisture as well. These can be small plumbing leaks or rainwater getting into the home through the roof, windows, or doors. Houseplants are a common culprit as well. It’s very easy to overwater plants. You may also be dealing with hydrostatic pressure, which is due to excess groundwater and can cause all kinds of moisture problems in a home or commercial building.

What to Do About Excess Moisture

Call in a professional who specializes in waterproofing. That pro can inspect your home and determine what is causing the excess moisture. Once you know the cause, you can explore a targeted solution. In the case of hydrostatic pressure, for instance, the installation of a drainage system will usually do the trick.

Moisture Problems in the Delaware Valley

If you own a home or commercial building in the Delaware Valley and are dealing with a moisture problem, AWS is here to help. Our company has extensive experience diagnosing and correcting high humidity levels in homes and buildings. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or with any additional questions about “Where does moisture come from in a house?”.