from Dawn in Appleton, WI:
#551
We have severe moisture problems on our windows starting in fall and we have young children what can we do to get rid of this problem for our family's health? We have noticed mold build up and I try to clean it but it comes right back. We are a low income family so its extremely hard.
You may be eligible for assistance.
It is difficult to accurately answer/solve your window condensation problem without being able to conduct a moisture audit in your home. A moisture audit is necessary to determine the source(s) and severity of moisture and to evaluate mechanical ventilation equipment (if any) in your home.
Condensation is caused by moisture in vapor form condensing on cold surfaces that have temperatures at or below the dew point, such as window glass. To reduce/eliminate the condensation, you have to either raise the surface temperature above the dew point, reduce the relative humidity in the room/house, or a combination of both.
Several conditions can increase condensation problems. Closing drapes over windows can cause the glass temperature and the temperature of the air between the drape and the glass to become cooler, making condensation more likely. If the thermostat setting is substantially lowered at night, the relative humidity will increase and condensation may also increase. This condensation should vanish once the temperature rises in the morning.
The two main things you can do are to control sources of moisture and increase ventilation. To decrease or control excess humidity and condensation:
1. Use exhaust fans in your kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms.
2. Vent gas burners, clothes dryers, etc. to the outdoors.
3. Shut off furnace humidifiers and other humidifying devices in your home.
4. Be sure that the ventilating louvers in your attic, basement, or crawl spaces are open and amply sized.
5. Open fireplace dampers to allow an escape route for moisture-laden air.
6. Air out your house for a few minutes each day.
You may be eligible for low-income weatherization assistance or the Targeted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. Both of these programs help qualifying homeowners make energy efficiency improvements to their homes at little or no cost to the customer.
Published Wednesday, October 21, 2009