Multiple factors can influence to have humidity at home. Due to how unpleasant it usually is and the damage it is capable of causing, we must pay close attention to it and attack it immediately to avoid unwanted transformations in our home and the loss of our belongings.
Our home is our temple; After an exhausting day of work, there is nothing better than returning to the safety and tranquility of our home. In such a way that we make every effort to keep our space as conditioned as possible, clean and in the best conditions, in order to enjoy the best environment in our home, breathe fresh air and feel comfortable, calm and protected.
For this reason, we are lovers of keeping our spaces sufficiently conditioned, but details that get out of hand and that make our environment a little unpleasant, that flood it with bad smells or that deteriorate our belongings in a very excessive way, can influence us. appliances and in general our house.
We are talking about humidity at home, which is produced by different factors that are partly part of everyday life, our daily activities or progressive deterioration, but it does not stop being a great enemy at home since they can affect both our home and our health and that of our family members.
In this sense, it is important to determine why humidity is occurring at home, how to detect it and how to remove moisture, attack it and prevent it in the future.
How to detect the type of humidity we have at home?
To determine what type of humidity we have at home, it will be vitally important to check the aspects that characterize each type of humidity. There are distinctive features that will allow us to know what type of humidity we are facing, in such a way that we will know how to attack it.
In this sense, it is necessary to verify the presence of mold in the corners of the walls and ceiling, if the paint is peeling or cracked either at the top or bottom of the wall, if there are stains on the lining of the walls or excessive steam on the windows, glass and mirrors of the house.
Types of humidity
Once the aspects mentioned above have been identified, we must determine the type of humidity we have at home. By doing so, we will have greater certainty of how to attack and prevent it on future occasions, so below we will detail the types of humidity, why they occur, what to do to get rid of it and also what we must do to avoid it.
Moisture per filtration
Moisture by filtration is a type of moisture that is characterized by causing deterioration in the structure of our home and can occur in basements, garages and ground floors, due to cracks, broken pipes, drains, among others.
The reason for its appearance in our house can range from the rains, the existing cracks that are undermining the structures, or external pipes that are in poor condition and require immediate replacement.
How do we notice this type of humidity?
This type of humidity is manifested mainly by the horrible stains that it causes in the different structures that are affecting and when they are very serious, they reach the extreme of causing the walls to peel, which is a clear indication that the humidity is very old date, which causes the paint to break and tend to fall.
Similarly, if we have this type of humidity at home, we will detect it by rust-colored stains on the wall, which occurs because the iron inside the structure oxidizes and the stains are usually reflected on the walls of the house. our house.
It is important to attack moisture immediately, since carelessness with it could lead to the appearance of fungi and mold that increase respiratory diseases of the inhabitants of the home.
How to solve moisture problems at home due to leaks?
Once the moisture caused by leaks has been detected and identified, of course we must get down to work to remove moisture en casa in an easy and fast way. In this way, the deterioration of our house and the possible appearance of respiratory conditions will be avoided.
Obviously, if the damage has already left stains on our wall, we must proceed immediately to remove all the stained and chipped paint, which we will do once we locate the place where the water enters the wall, keeping in mind that painting over visible stains, in no sense do away with moisture.
If we already detect that it is a pipe, we must break the wall and replace the pipe since this will immediately eliminate the humidity; however, if it is moisture from rain we could try applying waterproofing on the affected surfaces. In the same way, we must ensure that the drains are kept clean, avoiding leaks and subsequent water seepage that translate into humidity in the house.
Condensation humidity
La humidity in the house due to condensation, is a process that occurs due to the vapor found in the air and little by little it transforms into liquid by coming into contact with cold surfaces.
This type of moisture can be very annoying and cause various damages. We become aware of it when we observe mold stains on the walls or water vapor on the windows, glass or mirrors, which we will detect by small drops of water that moisten these surfaces.
Dampness due to condensation at home will often occur due to normal and everyday circumstances in our home; as normal as the fact of breathing, since through this normal process of life we produce water vapor.
We invite you to read our article on how to clean car glass, where you will find useful tips that you can apply to clean the windows of your home.
Moisture problems due to condensation in the house
Condensation humidity is produced by all the vapors that are generated inside the house. In short, due to the normal use of certain devices such as the stove, the steam from the shower, when using the dryer, among others. In such a way that the steam accumulates until it becomes liquid water.
But while it is true that the steam then turns into water and inevitably generates moisture by condensation, the problem really lies in the fact that there is no ventilation at all in the house, or the ventilation is minimal or not. be the right one.
All this situation can trigger a series of problems in our home. It usually happens that the humidity even has a characteristic odor and it is quite an unpleasant odor. Therefore, dealing with the situation properly will prevent all this smell from invading the spaces of the house, our clothes, our furniture, sheets and, of course, will cause mold in spaces such as corners and other walls of our home.
Additionally, condensation moisture can trigger health problems. Among these, we can point out respiratory diseases such as: asthma, sinusitis, allergies and in the worst cases, bronchitis.
What can we do to combat or eliminate condensation at home?
We must take the pertinent measures to achieve eliminate humidity in the house by condensation. Having more ventilation in the house goes a long way to prevent the accumulation of vapors in the spaces. This helps the air to renew little by little and prevents the walls from cooling down and accumulating the liquid produced by the steam.
Similarly, we can reduce humidity in home trying to keep windows and doors open when using appliances such as the dryer, so that the steam of the moment does not accumulate, since the dryer is one of the devices that emits the most steam.
If we can invest a little more, we can think of how to avoid humidity at home by replacing windows and installing those with controlled ventilation systems, which control air intake and prevent windows from losing their thermal properties.
Dehumidifiers, our great ally
Similarly, dehumidifiers can be a great ally when it comes to preventing humidity due to condensation, since these devices fulfill the function of air conditioning environments, absorbing water and accumulating it in a built-in tank, thus reducing humidity. , avoiding the condensation of water on the walls and the formation of mold.
If it is simpler solutions to reduce humidity in home and that do not imply a blow to our pocket, we could try, for example: dry clothes outdoors, ventilate the bathroom after showering, cover the pots when cooking, constantly move bedspreads and clothes since the smell of humidity adheres to these and produces mold and illuminate those more closed spaces that tend to accumulate humidity by condensation.
The mold on the walls due to this type of humidity, it is important to eliminate it with water and bleach and, if possible, apply a base of anti-humidity paint, prior to the final color that you want to apply.
Dampness due to rising or humidity in the foundations
This type of humidity is characterized by the absorption of water through very small pores that consume the water from the ground that is damp, which can occur because these lands do not have a good drainage system.
It occurs much like moisture from seepage, they will only vary in position and most likely in growth. They occur exclusively in low areas, such as premises or homes located in basements or ground floors, they are easy to identify and their progress tends to be slower than the damp that we have already identified.
It can increase in the rainy season, which is a consequence of the filtration of rainwater that remains contained in the ground and rises through the existing pores in the foundation, reaching a height of up to approximately one meter.
Moisture by capillarity will also cause a very unpleasant appearance in our home, causing stains and deterioration of the walls.
But even when this type of humidity is not usually so aggressive and its growth is slower, we cannot be careless and neglect ourselves when identifying them, since they can lead to large-scale work, such as: excavations to be able to implement drainage systems or waterproof barriers, since over time they could deteriorate the bases or foundations so much that they would cause the entire structure to give way.
For avoid humidity at home Due to capillarity, it will be very important to carry out a correct waterproofing with substances whose main objective is to stop the water, in such a way that they cover surfaces in order to keep them dry.
Moisture bugs at home
It is opportune to remember that in our home we must always maintain a fresh and pleasant environment that makes it healthy and harmonious. Humidity at home is totally contrary to these precepts and among all the problems that it can cause and that we have already mentioned, there are also unpleasant ones moisture bugs, also known as silverfish.
If we have these silverfish at home, this is a sure sign that we have serious humidity problems. These moisture bugs, however harmless they may seem, can cause serious problems in our belongings, since they lodge in our clothes, our sheets and even if they do not bite, they are very easy to hide and especially to reproduce.
These bugs are approximately one centimeter long. They are not exactly visible since they hide from the light and their appearance is greatly favored by humid environments, so it is common to find them in bathrooms.
Of course, to eliminate these undesirable moisture bugs, you have to think about attacking the root problem, that is, you have to eliminate humidity in the house since this is the factor that keeps them alive and favors their rapid reproduction.
Among other moisture bugs, we can also count the moisture pills or earth pigs, centipedes in the same way usually appear in humid environments.
Solutions for humidity in the home
Finally, we will detail a series of tips that in general will help us to reduce humidity in home or delete it. We recommend below:
- Constantly check the leaks and pipe installations in our house, this aspect is very important, since generally the pipes are never changed and when it is done, it is precisely because the problem has already surfaced.
- It is important that the pipe through which the dryer emits steam is well placed, that is, it must go directly to the street.
- Dry the clothes outside the house, which is ideal if we have open spaces that favor the natural ventilation of the clothes.
- We can install dehumidifiers, which, as we have already explained, are responsible for reducing and controlling the humidity of the environment.
- Open the doors and windows to encourage air circulation in the house, in this way we will ensure that the humidity is expelled to the outside.
- Using the extractor hood on the stove will be of great help in reducing the humidity in the house. This will eliminate the smoke and vapors that are emitted when cooking.
Home tricks to reduce and eliminate humidity:
- Rice: Place cloth bags with rice in our clothes. Rice tends to absorb moisture, we can place them in our closets and change them once a month.
- Baking soda: it can be placed in uncovered containers in the different spaces of the home that accumulate humidity.
- Café: especially indicated to reduce the unpleasant smell of humidity, it can be used in grains or in the normal commercial presentation, it is placed in jars in strategic places and that's it.
- Chalk: it also helps to absorb moisture, it can be placed in bags or the bar hanging.
- Sal Island: used to absorb moisture, a certain amount of salt is placed in a container in the center of the humid environment.
- Incandescent light: lighting our spaces with incandescent bulbs can be an alternative. These emit heat, so placing them in closed spaces like our closet helps to eliminate humidity and the bad smell caused by humidity.
Having identified all the problems that humidity can cause us at home, it is necessary to get down to work and eliminate it as quickly as possible. In this way, we will ensure the comfort and safety of our home and the members of our family; We can even prevent expenses on home repairs that could be expensive.
To continue obtaining more homemade tricks, we invite you to read our article how to unclog a bathroom, to keep the comfort of your home up to date.