Condensation
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Condensation takes place wherever warm, moist air inside the house comes in contact with a colder surface such as a window, toilet tank, water heater, etc. Ventilation helps eliminate condensation, so be careful not to obstruct openings such as attic louvers and other venting. Condensation is at its maximum in new homes. When a home is built, many gallons of water went into materials such as concrete, drywall mud, tile work, and even some types of paint. This creates air ofhigher moisture content than normal. Proper ventilation helps speed drying, but it takes about a year for full curing. Condensation within the home can also result from excessive moisture from a larger number of indoor plants. Steam cooking without proper ventilation may also result in condensation. Whenever possible, you should aid the normal drying-out process by providing steady, even ventilation. Homeowners should not maintain extremely high temperatures within the home during the winter, to aid this drying process. Unnatural heat can cause warping and other damage. There are steps you can take to minimize the result of condensation, known as sweating. Sweating occurs when warm, moist air settles on a cool surface. It can show up on windows, walls, pipes, etc. It does not occur when warm, moist air rests on a warm, moist surface or when cold air rests on a cold surface. So to reduce sweating, you should take steps to prevent the combination of warm, moist air resting on a cold place. Some ways to do that include:
Vents, exhaust fans or open windows can draw moisture-laden air from the kitchen, bathrooms and utility rooms to the outside. Excessive humidity can be removed with a dehumidifier – simple or sophisticated – depending on the severity of the problem. Cold windows can have storm windows added outside or a plastic-type material inside. Most new homes have thermal pane windows that take the place of storm windows. If these windows sweat inside, it may mean the seal is broken. Eliminate the cold surface of pipes that sweat by wrapping them with pipe insulation or using foam-type tubes that slip on. Toilet tanks sweat because of the cold water inside them and warm, moist air that surrounds them. There are liners made of a special material that you can install. You can also cover the tank with a fabric or have a plumber install a mixing valve so the water in the tank is not completely cold. Condensation is a visible sign of the presence of humidity – also known as water vapor, moisture and steam. It is present in all air in varying quantities. Moist air seeks out drier air to mix with and can do it very forcefully. Scientists refer to this force as “vapor pressure.” It’s what allows moisture of indoor air to penetrate through wood, plaster, brick, and cement (the materials we build with) to escape to the drier air outside.There are only 3 ways to reduce humidity, according to a column by the Associated Press Building Editor:
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