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How to Dehumidify your Home with an Annual Checkup
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By Carlo Morelli
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Excessive levels of humidity in your home can damage your house,your possessions and your health. How? One word: Mold. Healthrisks from mold are especially a concern for those householdswith family members who are elderly, infants, suffer fromallergies, asthma or chemical sensitivities. In order to combathumidity, it is important to be on watch for water leaks andother sources of moisture in your home. A humidity level between30% and 50% is what you want to aim for.
Regular checks of your home are one way to maintain healthyhumidity levels. Here is a brief list of things to look for on ascheduled basis. Most are easy to perform yourself, but you canalso have a home maintenance contractor or company do them foryou.
1. Air conditioner drain lines - Can be damaged when the linethat drains get clogged, overflowing water from the drip pan.Periodically check drip pan for water. Schedule annualinspection/service call to avoid buildup of algae and mold inthe drain line.
2. Garbage disposal system - periodically check for cracking andother causes of leaks in your waste disposal. Look for dampspots underneath the counter where it may be dripping.
3. Hot Water Heater -, water heaters can rust or form cracksover time; resulting leaks can be a big source of moisture andcostly to repair. Check for rust and deterioration every year.Check the drain pan for water, making sure the drain line forthe pan is not clogged. Your water heater should be drained andcleaned the as per the manufacturer's recommendations. 4.Shower, Sink, Toilet, and Tub - water leakage from aroundbathtubs, toilets, showers and sinks may cause widespread damagedue to the leak often being concealed from view. You can preventleaks by making sure there is a watertight continuous sealing ofcaulk around all edges of sinks, toilets, tubs and showerstalls. Cracks in caulk or tile grout on walls or shower floorscan point to lack of a watertight seal. This can be a problem ifyou reside in multi-family housing such as a condo or apartmentbuilding, because the leak could be in a neighbor's bathroomwithout your knowledge.
5. Sprinklers/Irrigation Systems - Should maintain enoughdistance from the house so as not to allow sprinklers orsprinkler heads to dampen exterior walls.
6. Attic - Seasonal checks for damp insulation or water stainscan uncover small or slow roof leaks.
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