Dealing with Dampness in Your Home2 min read

Reading Time: 2 minutesLarry Brydon,
LEED AP – Vice Chair – Reliance Home Comfort
Mr. Brydon is currently a Senior Account Executive with Reliance Home Comfort where he supports New Product Development projects within their Builder Markets Group.
He is both a LEED Accredited Professional, and an NRCan Certified Energy Evaluator with the EnergyStar and Energuide programs. In addition to his role as Vice Chair with Sustainable Buildings Canada, he has also served as Chair of the Canada Green Building Council – Greater Toronto Chapter and is a past Board Director for BILD, the Building Industry and Land Development Associations (formerly Greater Toronto Home Builders Association and The Urban Development Institute).
Moving forward we are going to update the blog monthly with tips and instructions on reducing your environmental footprint and saving on heating and cooling costs in the process.
May, 2011.
With Spring officially here, it’s the time of year when you start to notice excess moisture in your home. Maybe your basement is damp and musty, or perhaps you’ve noticed mould or moisture on your bathroom walls. Whatever your moisture issue, here are some suggestions for dealing with the dampness.

• Install a dehumidifier
  If you’re noticing that your home feels musty, stuffy or damp, or has lingering odours, installing a dehumidifier (usually in the basement) will help draw excess moisture out of the air and help eliminate the problem.

• Check your attic
  Sometimes, moisture in the kitchen or bathroom is due to exhaust fans venting into your attic, rather than outside. (You may also see mould, mildew or wet insulation in your attic.) If this is the case, try to redirect exhaust vents to lead to the outside, or try to ensure your roof has a ventilation system to get rid of excess moisture.

• Install a vapour barrier
  If you notice mould and mildew on your walls, or if your basement is wet or damp, you may have gravel or dirt instead of a vapour barrier in your crawl spaces. Installing a vapour barrier in your interior foundation walls will prevent moisture from seeping into the low-lying areas of your home.

• Be wary of indoor plants and firewood
  One surprising source of dampness can be indoor plants or firewood stored inside. Consider reducing the number of plants you keep, and store firewood in your garage or on your front porch to help eliminate interior moisture.

For all of your home comfort needs, contact your local Reliance Home Comfort specialist by calling 1-866-Reliance or visit www.reliancehomecomfort.com Remember, homes run better on Reliance.