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Page THE ALTON HILLS HOMESTVLE Saturday December High humidity problem can lead to structural damage Tab article to provided by local Realtors and the Ontario Real EiUte Association for the benefit of consumers in the real estate market Has your house developed a musty smell recently Do you have a lot of condensation on your windows Have you noticed any mould or mildew on your walls or in your closets Do your windows Ice up during the winter Is your basement damp and dank If so your house is probably suffering from an overabundance of moist air high humidity Left unchecked this problem can eventually lead to structural damage rotting wood and buckl ing as well as causing harm to your belongings But before you panic keep in mind that there are several relatively simple things you can do to make your home less humid and much more comfortable First you should realize that a certain amount of humidity is necessary in your home to keep you comfortable control static electricity and prevent your wood furniture from cracking However many newly built or renovated homes which have been rendered virtually air tight condensation and higher levels of humidity may become more of a noticeable problem because moist air becomes trapped and cannot escape as easily to the out side through gaps and cracks The problem becomes even more noticeable in the winter when lower outside temperature cause condensation or ice to build up on the interior surfaces of win REDUCE AT SOURCE The easiest way to begin cut ting down the humidity in your home is to try and reduce the generation of moisture in your home especially in winter Every time you do a load of laundry or wash dishes you are contributing to the humidity level m your home Its better and more economical to try and do one larger load of laundry or dishes than washing a series of several smaller loads Boiling liquids on top of the stove also contribute to the general overall humidity level of your home While cooking try to remember to put lids on your pots You should also try to use your cooking exhaust fan to vent any moist air to the outside If you don already have an ex fan in your kitchen you may want to consider having one installed You can also open a window to help expel any moist warm air The same rule of thumb applies to showering and bathing Make sure you turn on your exhaust fan to draw moist air out of the house If you don have a ventilating fan you may want to have one in stalled If you have a fan but it fails to do an adequate job you may want to consider upgrading to a more powerful unit You can also open up your bathroom window a bit to let any warm moist air escape OTHER FACTORS Several other factors also con tribute to the general humidity level of your home such as dry your laundry on an indoor clothesline or clothes rack An Exposed dirt floor in the basement or crawl space can also enhance the humidity level of your home Installation of vapor barriers can help effectively con trol the problem Houseplants are also responsi ble for giving off moisture and you may want to eliminate some if you have an overabundant sup ply in your house You may also be adding a significant amount of humidity to your home if you have a recently renovated wellsealed house and you use a humidifier In most cases this will only serve to enhance the humidity level in your home VENTILATION Good vertilation will help you control the moisture levels within your home Exhaust fans as mentioned above are a good way to ventilate rooms where a lot of moisture is generated You can also have a fresh air intake or an air exchanger with a heat ex changer installed Opening win for short periods of time alio helps to keep your house bet ventilated It extremely important to en sure that air can move freely throughout your home Don block your cold air returns or heat registers Also make sure your attic vents are not blocked and that they are in good operating condition Beauty in distinctive toppings DISTINCTIVE ARCHEDTOP CURTAIN and valance treatments can be achieved with the new Arch Curtain Rod introduced by Newell Window Furnishings Available in two sizes to fit windows from o 66 Arch urtain Rods fit alt standard width rod pocket curtains BRAND REALTY INC Rd IM Georgetown 8730300 91 Stte44 PROFIT BY BUYING NOW Be quick and let s take a look at Hits well priced bedroom ly home Central air in 1 990 N landscaped lot rock garden and children s play gym n fenced back yard only 184 900 CREATE A LIFESTYLE OF LIVING When you move into this Penthouse condo apartment Two bedroom unit has its own laundry room and 5 ap phances Th s is a must to see TODAY SBUY TOMORROWS SECURITY With this 3 bedroom bungalow Nice lot hardwood floors potential law suite 900 FOR FURTHER DETAILS CALL DOUGDIANNE PENRICE Sales Reps at 0300 or 877 8768