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THE HERALD OUTLOOK StimUy 14 Condensation a common problem Condensation on windows is a common occurrence mmany Cana- homes is persistent and longlasting be a sign of too much moisture in your home The source of this moisture should be determined It may be generated by activities inside the home or it may be entering the home from the exterior Whatever the source this condition can con tribute to serious problems in your home If you typically have a heavy layer of moisture on the inside sur face of doubleglazed windows do a quick survey of the outside struc ture of your home to ensure water is not entering the home through cracks or open joints You should also check the basement foundation for signs of dampness and the attic area for leaks in the roof While condensation may be caused by any of the above situ ations m modern homes it is more likely a sign of high levels of hu midity generated indoors Mpuld or mildew in areas where tempera tures are low and air circulation is poor such as closets and comers is another indicator Regardless of whether conden sation is a result of moisture being generated from inside or outside the home excessive amounts can cause rotting of wood window frames sills and trim In extremecases the buildings structural materials and insulation can be damaged Interiorgenerated moisture Condensation occurs naturally when warm moist air meets a cold surface winter the warm air of aheated home holds moisture in the form of water vapour When the air comes into contact with a cooler surface like a window or uninsulated wall it is chilled As the air cools the excess moisture condenses out as a liquid or frost depending on the temperature of the cool surface The amount of moisture in your homes air its humidity level is therefore crucial Maintaining an appropriate humidity level can of ten seem like a balancing act too little moisture can result in dry scratchy throats and static electric ity while too much moisture can lead to condensation problems Logically the first step in reme dying interiorgenerated condensa tion problems is to reduce the amount of moisture produced in your home Normal activities sucr as bathing cooking doing laundry watenng plants and breathing can contnbpte up to 20 of water a day to the air in a home Fortunately a number of simple measures can be taken to reduce this moisture pro duction Lower the humidifier setting on your furnace if comfort will allow rum it off completely and limit the use of portable humidifiers and vaporizers Ensure your clothes dryer is vented to the outside never to the attic and avoid hanging clothes to dry inside during the winter Use the vents in your kitchen and bathrooms and make sure they areventedtotheoutside Keepyour pots and pans tightly lidded when cooking Avoid storing or drying large quantities of firewood inside your house Ensure that your basement is well drained and dampproofed If your home has a crawl space or cellar with an earth floor cover it with a 0 15 mm sheet of polyethyl ene to prevent the earths moisture from entering the air Open your crawl space vents each spring and close them in the fall If condensation problems persist after you have reduced moisture production you may want to con sider increasing your homes venti lation Measurescanbeassimpleas opening a few select windows a crack and using bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans when bathing or cooking At the more costly end of the scale you can install a com plete mechanical ventilation sys tem including a heat recovery ventilator that warms incoming fresh air by extracting heat from outgoing stale air Windows are the most obvious indicator of condensation problems but they are not necessarily the most serious Moisture buildup in wall spaces and attics can compromise the effectiveness of insulation and may cause rotting of the building structure To ensure that warm moist air is not escaping into wall spaces or the attic seal all areas where air leak age is possible Ideally a continu airvapour barrier should also be installed and sealed at all edges Special care should be given to sealing areas where moisture is routinely produced such as the kitchen and bathrooms Uppersto rey ceilings should also receive close attention In addition to sealing the airleakscovertheseceihngswitha few coats of oil based paint spar varnish or a latex vapour barrier paint to help impede the passage of moisture from the living space into the attic All air sealing should take place from the house and airva pour barriers should be installed on the warm side of the insulation This will allow moist interior air that does make its way into the wall spaces or attic to pass through to the outside Exteriorgenerated moisture If you have determined that con densation problems in your home are caused by moisture entering from the outside you should take steps to remedy the situation to prevent structural damage For example a leaky roof can contribute significantly to moisture buildup in your attic To combat the problem seal the leaks and make sure your attic vents are in working order Install baffles if insulation is blocking soffit vents The basement can also be a prob lem area for moisture production especially if the foundation walls are prone to dampness You can direct water away from the house by installingeavestroughsand slop the ground appropriately If the dampness persists it may be neces sary to excavate around the exterior of the foundation walls in order to repair any cracks and treat the portion of the walls below ground with a waterproofing chemical or asphalt emulsion Before backfil ling the drainage tiles should be checked to ensure that they are in good condition Structural deficiencies may also allow water or moist air to enter your home from the outside In addition to looking for cracks and open joints in exterior walls and the roof make sure the flashing is doing its job effectively ROBERT SBTZ Sales Representative BRAND Business 8730300 Residence DO YOU NEED To have a little more property at least 4 bedrooms a fireplace a large pool an office for your business Its all here plus more at 32990000 Call Robert Seltz at 8730300 Or 8778333 BUY NOW This is your chance to own a 1 bedroom mobile home with fridge stove pullout couch and dining set for 2190000 Dont hesitate on this Call Robert Seitz at 8730300 or 8778333 What a great section Thats what so many of our advertisers say after they see the results they get from our Real Estate Pages Take a bite out of disappointment and advertise with us the HERALD Home Newspaper of Halton Hills Established 8772201