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sealing air
and moisture leaks
Sealing Air and Moisture Leaks
Controlling moisture is an important step
to maintaining an energy efficient home. Also, excessive
moisture within your home can cause considerable damage
to surfaces and create an uncomfortable environment. It
is important for homeowners to maintain the moisture balance.
Indications that your home has excessive
moisture:
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Moisture on basement walls and floors
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Damp water pipes
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Mold or mildew growth on surfaces
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Ice, frost, condensation on inside
window surfaces
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Sweaty ceilings and walls
One of the easiest ways to gain control
of your excessive moisture is to seal all the leaks in your
home. You want to seal all the gaps around electrical outlets,
piping, switches, and any other penetrations through the
building. Use a grout or sealant, found at any hardware
store, to seal the gaps.
Another important way to control excessive
moisture is to use vapor barriers. Vapor barriers are used
to resist the movement of water vapor or moisture in various
areas of the house. Vapor barriers can be placed on the
warm side of a wall, under concrete slabs, and in attics
and crawl spaces.
Vapor barriers include polyethylene film,
asphalt-coated or laminated papers, oil base or aluminum
paints and vinyl wallpaper. Paints and wallpapers are often
used in existing homes which did not have vapor barriers
installed during their construction.
Additional, you may want to pay special
attention to your homes circulation and ventilation. Consider
installing properly sized vents to promote circulation or
try using small efficient fans to move internal air through
a house.
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