Hidden Causes of Water Damage in the Home
In addition to causing destruction, water damage also has an
adverse affect to the indoor air quality of your home.
Damage from water can cause wood rot, insect infestation and
mold .
The obvious causes of water damage are leaking roofs, windows,
doors, foundation cracks and visible plumbing leaks.
These are fairly easy to detect, enabling a quick repair before
maximum damage occurs.
The not-so-obvious culprits are moisture behind finished
basement walls that are insulated with fiberglass; poor grading
around foundation walls and air leaks that occur between the
living space and attic.
Insulating finished basement walls with fiberglass is not a good
idea.
Fiberglass will absorb water and not allow it to travel through
the wall, preventing a drying effect. Some people think
installing a plastic barrier in the wall is the answer, but this
approach only traps moisture.
A better way is to use rigid insulation (also known as blue
board). This insulation is semi-permeable and allows moisture to
travel through the wall, allowing it to dry.
Water can also enter the basement if the grade of the land is
pitched toward the house.
Grading the soil away from the house and adding rain gutters
will guide rainwater away from the house.
Openings from the house to the attic and poor ceiling insulation
in houses located in colder climates can lead to ice dams that
cause water to back up into the house.
Air leakage from the house to the attic will carry moisture in
the form of humidity into the attic that can form water on the
underside of the roof leading to rotting and mold.
Typical leakage points between the house and attic are:
* leaky attic hatches
* holes drilled for plumbing pipes and
electrical wires that penetrate the attic and are usually not
sealed
* Recessed light fixtures that are not the airtight type
* Exhaust fans that vent directly into the attic
For those who live in warmer climates, water damage can occur
within your walls because of poorly designed air conditioning
systems.
Systems that are oversized (a larger capacity than
necessary) will not remove enough humidity which leads to high
moisture levels that condense on cooler surfaces.
Duct systems that are imbalanced can draw outside humidity
through walls that can produce water in the walls.
Mitigating these problems requires a professional.
Repairing the attic problems listed above may seem simple
enough, but trying to do it yourself doesn’t guarantee you
really fixed the problem and can sometimes lead to other
problems.
Hiring an insulation expert who specializes in building science
(also known as a building performance specialist) will ensure
the job is done properly and safely.
These specialists come equipped with tools such as blower doors,
pressure gauges, etc. to quantify the measures taken for the
repairs.
The same goes for the air conditioning specialist, he should
have duct diagnostic tools to test your ductwork to be sure it
is properly designed and performing efficiently.
If you are unable to find someone in your area, go to
www.energyconservatory.com.
They are manufacturers of the required testing instruments and
they will have contractors in their database they can recommend.
In addition to taking care of the water damage, your home will
be more comfortable, you’ll save money on your energy bills and
improve your indoor air quality.
About the author:
Ed Bishop is founder and president of Enhanced Living Inc., a
Troy, NY-based design-consulting and contracting company.
contracting. Trained in the “House Is A System” approach to HVAC
design. He was formerly a building analyst instructor, providing
certification training for New York's Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR® program
Go to http://www.expert-air-purifier-reviews.com
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