High humidity is something we deal with just about every day here on both the Eastern and Western Shore, but humidity inside of your home can cause a snowball effect of issues. As building scientists, our team pays very close attention to indoor humidity because when levels get too high, it often leads to poor indoor air quality and even structural damage to your home.
At Total Home Performance, we offer several solutions for moisture control that solve humid house problems at the source. From musty indoor smells to damp basements, we can get to the bottom of your indoor moisture problem—keep reading to learn how.
Why Too Much Moisture is Bad For Your Home
Your Maryland home is designed to stay dry inside and when moisture finds its way in, there are several home health and structure issues that can arise.
Mold Growth
Mold thrives in moist areas of your home, which unfortunately are often hidden behind walls or in your attic or crawl space/basement. These are some of the most vulnerable areas to mold growth because the high temperature differences between the indoors and outdoors can lead to condensation. Mold is known to cause several health effects, such as increased asthma or allergy symptoms, throat irritation, and lung inflammation.
Structural Damage
When moisture reaches your home’s support structures it can quickly spiral into wood rot that puts your family at risk. The longer your floor joists, girders, or other support systems are exposed to moisture, the bigger the extent of the damage it will cause.
Indoor Air Quality Issues
Aside from mold growth, excess amounts of moisture can result in other indoor air quality problems, too. Pests and insects are attracted to moist environments and if humidity can find its way inside, so can they. High humidity can also damage your furniture, clothes, and mattresses as well.
Moisture Management Services From Total Home Performance
The EPA recommends that indoor humidity levels stay within the 30-50% range and Total Home Performance offers several ways to keep your home’s levels in balance. The best place to start is with a moisture and humidity assessment to pinpoint exactly where the problem is originating. Moisture levels can increase due to air leaks, poor insulation, water leaks, or other issues—our team will get to the bottom of the problem before we recommend a long-lasting and reliable solution.
Common ways we can decrease the indoor moisture levels in your Maryland or Delaware home include:
- Insulation and Air Sealing - Upgrading your insulation and air sealing gaps and cracks can not only help decrease the indoor humidity and moisture levels in your home, they can lower your year-round energy costs too.
- Crawl Space Encapsulation - Crawl space encapsulation helps protect one of the areas inside of your home that is most prone to moisture intrusion. Using spray foam insulation, a heavy-duty vapor barrier, and a dehumidifier, we can keep moisture out for good.
- Home Ventilation - Introducing a controlled amount of fresh air into your home with a whole-home ventilation system can help keep your family healthy and safe from indoor air quality issues.
- Dehumidification - We install whole-home humidifiers that connect directly to your HVAC system or have its own ductwork to better control indoor humidity levels.
- Mold Remediation - If moisture has already caused mold growth in your home, we always remove it with our mold remediation services before moving on to a long-term solution.
Keep Moisture at Bay With Total Home Performance
Regardless of the cause of excess moisture in your home, we can help you find a solution so your family can breathe easier. With more than a decade of experience with Maryland homes, knowledge of available incentives including up to $7,500 in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR rebates, and a BPI-certified team, we’ll make your home healthier, more comfortable, and energy efficient. If you’re experiencing symptoms of high humidity levels in your home, like stuffy noses or muggy air, give the Total Home Performance team a call.