How Does Humidity Destroy Your Home? Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. It may not be visible, but it’s still there. Humidity is important in our lives for many reasons. It acts as a greenhouse gas, which keeps us warm when it is cold and cools us down when it is hot.
We need humidity to sleep well at night, but it also destroys homes because of damage caused by rot and mold. High humidity in the home may not be that good for your furniture and house at large. Read on – How Does Humidity Destroy Your Home?
Table of Contents
1) Mold and Rot
The key factors that determine whether your home will suffer damage due to humidity are how well it is insulated and the presence of moisture. If you want to know how humidity destroys your home, then consider this: moister is everywhere, be it on our bodies, in the soil, or even in the air.
It can turn into liquid easily if the atmospheric pressure is too high or the temperature dropped suddenly. When moisture condenses on your walls, it will cause mold and rot which can damage your house severely.
Mold is a kind of fungus that feeds on dead organic matter. As it grows, molds create colonies that release millions of spores into the air, causing respiratory problems to humans and animals.
Furthermore, the molds themselves are harmful to your health if you accidentally ingest them or get them in your eyes. When this happens you will suffer from severe vomiting and diarrhea. As for rot, it comes from water and microorganisms such as bacteria.
The basic structure of most house materials is built up of organic molecules combined with minerals. Once the organic molecules are eaten away by bacteria, the minerals will be left alone and the material will begin to break down and disintegrate.
2) Condensation into Water and Destroy Your Furniture
When the temperature of the air decreases, the atmospheric pressure over your home also drops. This causes water vapor to condense and turn into liquid. As moister falls towards your home, it will seep through any crack or gap in its structure.
It may not be visible but it is still inside and will eventually cause damage to your house’s structure.
The water that slowly seeps into your house may not be visible, but it will eventually create puddles and mold which can damage the walls, flooring, and ceilings. Accessories such as furniture will also be at risk of water damage.
If you have a leather couch in your home, then expect it to rot quickly if exposed to humidity or become infested by insects.
3) Electric Wiring Problems
Electrical systems are prone to damage, especially when humidity in the home is very high. Water vapor in the air is attracted to sources of heat and then the molecules will accumulate on various surfaces until it condenses into liquid form.
This can be extremely dangerous if another source of heat triggers an electrical short circuit. The results could be devastating for your home.
Electric wiring in most homes is protected by drywall or plastic panels. The insulation used is also water-resistant which means the wiring will not be affected even when it comes into contact with large amounts of moisture.
However, when your home becomes humid, this protection gets compromised and the acts as channels that allow for electrical current to pass through them. If you are using wet materials to insulate your home, you might want to reconsider since the electrical current will be concentrated at these locations.
4) Destroy Your Home’s Structure
Humidity also destroys your home by weakening its structure. As water vapor condenses on various surfaces of your house, it can collect until it pools into a large amount of water.
If the walls are weak, the water will pass through them and damage your home’s foundation. This can be a major problem because it will cause your house to lean towards one side, destroying its straight lines and symmetry.
Houses made from wood are particularly at risk of destruction because wood is organic and easily degraded by various microorganisms which feed on the cellulose that makes up the wooden fibers. Moister will allow mold to grow, which can weaken the structure of your house.
5) Destroy Your Home’s Appearance
Humidity also causes your home to look dull and drab-looking. This is because the chemicals in your air are attracted to water vapor which will settle on surfaces, darkening them.
Usually, these are outdoor surfaces such as decks and siding. They lose their polished look which was previously attractive to potential buyers or renters of your property.
6) Destroy Your House Paint
When you paint the walls of your home, make sure they are completely dry before painting. Even if it is painted from top to bottom, moisture from the air will seep through and discolor some sections.
This can be a major problem for houses that have multiple colors because some sections may look different upon close inspection.
The humidity in the air can also be a problem when choosing materials for your home’s paint job. For example, latex paints are popular because they are easy to apply and require less maintenance. However, latex paint is susceptible to damage by water vapor which causes it to lose its shine.
If you are looking for a cheap paint job that will last for several years, then you might want to consider oil-based paints. They are slightly more expensive but they are also resistant to water vapor.
7) Damage Stored Goods
Storing goods in your home is a very common practice. It could be either for personal use or intended to make good business. Unfortunately, humidity can destroy these stored goods which range from books, furniture, and even clothing.
The paint on the items will become faded when exposed to moisture in the air. This is true when you are storing clothes in a cedar chest. The cedar oils in the wood will absorb most of the moisture, but eventually, they will seep through and discolor your clothes.
How Does Humidity Destroy Your Home? – Conclusion
It is important to be aware of how humidity can affect your home and the things inside it. It’s not just about making sure you have a humidifier in case it gets too dry, but also understanding what moisture does when left unchecked.
If you’re worried about the effects that high levels of moister will have on your house or possessions, contact a professional. We hope you enjoyed and learned something from this article – How Does Humidity Destroy Your Home?