Excess moisture in your home becomes a dangerous and expensive problem if left unchecked. Controlling moisture will make heating and cooling your home easier, increasing energy-efficiency and saving you money. You will also prevent unsightly mold growth, leaving your home cleaner and more comfortable. But with these simple and effective strategies from the team at A+ Insulation, you can keep your home safe, sound, and free of unchecked moisture.
Excess Moisture: What’s the Big Deal?
Many homeowners don’t realize how devastating the effects of excess water vapor can be on their homes. As warm, moist air encounters a colder surface (walls in your home), the vapor reaches its “dew point” and condenses. This condensed water continually soaks into the walls, causing water damage to the surface. Your entire home can be affected by this process, but there are three key areas that are prone to expensive water damage from moisture:
- Attics
- Walls
- Foundations
These surfaces, when wet, allow the passage of more moisture, creating a problem that grows exponentially larger and more expensive to fix. If left unprotected, these areas can weaken from regular dampening, which is why it’s important to take early preventative measures to minimize the risk of water damage in your home.
3 Key Methods to Prevent Moisture Damage
Make sure that your home is protected before exposing it to excess moisture. This will save you from the extra cost of outfitting protection in an already damaged home. There are many ways to control excess moisture in your home, but these three key methods prove most effective in preventing damage from water vapor.
- Air Sealing
- Proper Ventilation
- Insulation
Air Sealing and Ventilation
Air leaks are one of the most common ways water vapor enters a building cavity. It is imperative that proper ventilation is installed and unwanted airways are sealed to ensure moisture doesn’t get trapped inside of your home. Air leaks in your home’s ventilation system should be properly filled with caulk. Components that can move should be sealed with weatherstripping to stop air leaks while not in use.
Insulation
Diffusion through materials plays a huge role in excess moisture reaching areas of your home. Improper, poor, or no insulation in an area of your home is sure to show the long-term effects of excess moisture. Effects range from material water damage to structural damage to mold growth to a drop in energy-efficiency through heat transfer. Here at A+ Insulation, we specialize in finding the perfect insulation for any area of your home. Here are some of the many insulation options available for your unique situation.
Foundation Insulation
- Blanket: Batts and rolls of fiberglass, mineral wool, or other fibers offer an inexpensive and quick installation for unfinished foundation walls, ceilings, floors, and attics.
- Rigid Foam/Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs): Foam boards or blocks are installed for the same purpose as Blanket style insulation, typically during construction of the home. These methods offer a high insulation value for their thickness.
Existing Wall Insulation
- Loose-fill/Blow-in: Typically consisting of fiberglass or cellulose, this insulation is blown into place using special equipment. These options are great for insulating finished and irregularly shaped areas, like attic rafters.
- Reflective System: Foil-faced paper, plastic film, or polyethylene bubbles are typically installed in unfinished walls. This type of insulation is most effective against downward heat flow.
- Sprayed Foam: Cementitious or phenolic foams are applied using small spray containers. They are used for the same purposes as loose-fill insulation.
As the seasons change, be aware of the moisture levels within your home. If you believe you may already have moisture damage, it may be worth scheduling a Kansas City home inspection to access the damage. A+ Insulation can help prevent trapped moisture and keep your home energy-efficient, mold-free, and structurally sound – saving you money and peace of mind.