Homes do not need water the way we do. In fact, they were built with dryness in mind. Their wood has been treated to resist moisture; their windows, roofs, and doors sealed to keep nature's showers out. In every way, our homes were built to stay dry. Unfortunately, they don't stay this way forever. Treatment on wood wears off, seals break, roofs leak and other problems arise that allow moisture into our homes. As you might guess, this can lead to severe problems.
Homes do not need water the way we do. In fact, they were built with dryness in mind. Their wood has been treated to resist moisture; their windows, roofs, and doors sealed to keep nature's showers out. In every way, our homes were built to stay dry. Unfortunately, they don't stay this way forever. Treatment on wood wears off, seals break, roofs leak and other problems arise that allow moisture into our homes. As you might guess, this can lead to severe problems.
How Moisture Problems Can Arise In Your Home
Moisture issues can spring up from a variety of factors. Water can seep into your home from outside if your roof is not properly sealed or if your weather stripping has been damaged. If your doors or window frames have gaps around them, water can find its way into your home’s wall voids. If your chimney has been damaged or is not covered properly, water can flow into it during a hard rain. If your home’s foundation has cracks, water can seep into your basement during storms. And this list doesn't consider the moisture problems that can happen inside of your home. Pipes can leak, airconditioning units can produce excess moisture, and even your shower can cause trouble if it is not installed properly. There's no limit to how many different ways moisture problems can happen inside your home.
The Problems Associated With Excess Moisture
Having excess moisture in your home might not seem like a big deal--until you do some research and discover all of the problems it can lead to. Here are just a few you should know about.
- Excess moisture can damage your home’s wood causing it to soften, rot, and/or decay. Not only does this damage your home’s value, but it also invites pests like carpenter ants and termites. If you didn’t know, both of these insects are known for their capability to destroy homes from the inside out.
- Excess moisture can encourage mold growth. Certain types of mold, such as black mold, can pose a serious health risk to anyone living under your roof.
- High humidity and moisture problems can also leave a musty smell in the air that is unpleasant to the nose.
- Many pests such as cockroaches, centipedes, earwigs, and silverfish love living in moist environments. If your home has moisture problems, these pests will be much more likely to invade.
- In certain conditions, wood can swell due to excess moisture. This has been known to damage wood-based countertops and other important features around homes.
Moisture Control Tips
To keep moisture down inside your Wilmington home, there are a few things you can do. Here is what we recommend.
- Search out and fix leaky plumbing around your home.
- Check your gutters and make sure they are in good repair and able to properly channel water away from your home.
- Use dehumidifiers in your home in particularly humid rooms such as basements and laundry rooms.
- Eliminate sources of water buildup in and around your home.
- Make sure your home’s foundation is properly sealed so that water cannot get through it.
- Check weather stripping and roof shingles to make sure your home’s exterior isn’t letting in any moisture during storms. Fix damage as needed.
A Better Method For Moisture Prevention
If you are looking for the absolute best way to keep moisture out of your home, there is one solution that is guaranteed to have the best results. At Jay Taylor Exterminating, we have effective and reliable solutions to keep moisture out of your home. We know how important it is that your home stays dry and we are here to make sure that happens.
Give us a call today to learn more about our moisture control services or to schedule an appointment for your Wilmington home.