In Mykonos, during winter season, many times we have to deal with indoors moisture and humidity. Moisture is consisted of water droplets when warm-humid air contacts a cool surface. The first thing we need to know, is how moisture enters our house. However, you may not know that the ideal humidity levels fluctuate from room to room and season to season. Several factors contribute to the humidity levels inside a house. Basically, some of them that are relevant to this phenomenon, is:
Liquid water running underneath the building or rain water
Exterior humidity that penetrates the walls due to bad insulation and construction materials
Interior humid air that come from clothe dryers, bathroom, cooking
A sealed, unused fireplace creates an opportunity for moisture problems. If air doesn’t circulate in the fireplace, condensation can accumulate on the walls and soak into the masonry. Make sure some air can flow through the fireplace but rain can’t enter it.
Rain that seeps into your home’s foundation will also lead to moisture problems. Make sure your gutters work properly and that they direct water away from your home’s foundation. Read Gutter Cleaning and Repair for instructions on maintaining your gutters.
Poor areas ventilation, can result in condensation, promoting mold growth in the framing elements of the house. This can affect your home’s structural integrity.
Humidity is not only harmful for the house as a structure, but also can damage our health. Moisture may be due to poor construction, without proper water drainage. Excess moisture in your home can lead to damage and encourage harmful mold and mildew growth. If you face the following signs, then it is more likely to act faster than you thought in order to fix the problem.
You can check for high level of humidity, if your home has:
Odor, mold and mildew
Inflated walls or ceiling (peeling paint)
Damp, humid air
Mildew, black/white spots on the walls, floors and shelves
Discoloration of any object
Water trickling out of walls
Standing water
Spalling of concrete or masonry
Rot and decay of joists, sill plates and columns
The existence of humidity bugs
Did you know?
They live in dark humid environments and humidity is their cozy “place” to live. So if you have those kind of visitors, you now know the reason! Other than that they are completely harmless.
Learn how to reduce moisture and prevent the problems it causes. Before the problem gets any worse, we may propose you some solutions:
you can decrease the moisture level if you use any kind of dehumidifiers, but it won’t be a permanent solution. Also, don’t forget that the A/C systems, are used as dehumidifiers not only to cool or warm your house. They can also remove moisture and humidity.
Make sure that the areas are properly ventilated, especially bathrooms and kitchens.
Insulation, is the most important thing that you need to take care of. In Mykonos, it is very important to apply insulation paint on the top of the roof so as to keep the rain drops away from entering the ceiling or humidity inside the pores of the concrete. Further information about insulation we will see in our next articles.
Finally, you can install humidity monitors so as to constantly check the level of humidity inside your house.
You can find more information on our web site mykonoshomeservices.com or you can all us on +30 22890 77111, +30 6943717417. | Lino – Paragka, 84600, MYKONOS
