Moisture control in the winter

Think of yourself stranded in, say, the Sahara desert, or the Gobi, either one. You’re there for a whole day. No shade, no water. Not good, right? The same thing happens to your home when it’s too dry. Without the camels of course.

While you might get an occasional nosebleed or a static shock robust enough to bring Frankenstein back to life, your furniture, doors, windows will also suffer. Paint and drywall cracks can appear, furniture and acoustic instruments can be adversely affected, and cabinet doorframes can begin to separate.

Most energy experts would agree that the healthy moisture level within a residential home is between 35-55%. Okay, that’s a pretty big range, but that’s because you may need to have higher humidity for such things as sensitive instruments, like pianos and cellos. As a general rule for optimal health it is recommended that your home humidity level be around 45%.

You could get a hygrometer, which calculates relative humidity. They can be a little spendy though, $50 - $100, especially if you get the ones that also tell you when your steak is done on the grill. However, it might be worth it. You would be held in high esteem among your neighbors as the only one on the block with such vapor-minded acumen.

You could always go the low-tech way with something called the "ice test." Put three medium ice cubes in a glass of water and stir it a few times. Wait for 180 seconds. Actually, roughly three minutes also works, but being exact makes it sounds more scientific. If you see droplets begin to form on the exterior of the glass, your home has normal to higher humidity. If no droplets form, then, you’re environment is too dry. Not quite the Sahara, but you’re heading in that direction.

Make sure your bathroom has an up to date exhaust system that efficiently and quietly vents moisture to the outside—same for your kitchen. A properly installed HVAC system should be able to control the moisture in your home, if all other envelope aspects are in good shape. Adding a humidistat can be a quick fix to an overly dry condition, but looking at larger issues is always recommended.

You could always tell your teenager to take an extra long shower (as if you’d need to) or for an even quicker fix with gastronomic benefits, you could make spaghetti more often if a lack of moisture is the issue. There are a number of ivy and fern plants that supposedly absorb more moisture than they give off, but that seems more like a way to support nurseries than solving moisture issues.

“Inspecting your vapor barriers, attic, and wall insulation, cracks in foundation walls and grading, windows, the condition of your siding and even soffits can have a significant impact on your moisture levels,” explains owner John Murphy. “These are not quick fixes, but they are real long-term solutions that should absolutely be considered.”