Tips to prevent moisture problems in the house

Too much moisture in the house is not only harmful to your home, but also to your health. An environment that is too moist can lead to complaints such as headaches, breathlessness and even asthma. It is therefore important that moisture problems are quickly recognized and treated.

The problems are often easy to spot: damp and mold spots on the wall, peeling wallpaper or stucco or condensation on the windows. “But the signals may also be less immediately clear,” says John Kersmakers of Vereniging Eigen Huis. “The laundry in the house that dries less quickly or suddenly a higher energy consumption.”

Most moisture problems are caused by poor ventilation, but construction errors can also play a role. Kersemakers distinguishes between rising damp, cold bridges, condensation and leakage.

In the first problem, moisture enters the house through foundations, crawl spaces, and walls. Moisture spots are especially clearly visible just above the plinth.

Ventilation

Cold bridges are the droplets that form on a cold surface after warm air hits a cold floor or wall directly. You see these cold bridges a lot on metal or aluminum window frames, for example.

Condensation is similar to cold bridges, but is caused by human activities such as showering and cooking. When a house is not properly ventilated, the moist air condenses on windows and walls.

Leaks are often the result of a construction fault or aging of the home. Think of blocked gutters, leaking water pipes and bathrooms with bad sealant joints.

There are a number of simple ways to prevent moisture problems in your home. First of all, it is important to ventilate properly, Kersemakers advises. “Make sure that fresh outside air can flow in day and night by keeping the ventilation grilles open at all times. Even when it is a bit colder ”, it sounds.

In addition, it makes sense to reduce moisture production in the house. “Switch on the extractor hood while cooking and dry the bathroom with a squeegee after showering.” Kersemakers also recommends insulating the home properly. “The warmer the house, the less chance of condensation.”