Put a Damper on Dampness

A little moisture can cause major damage, especially after a wet spring.

It’s important to keep your home dry, as damp conditions can cause peeling paint, wood rot, and even structural damage.

Excess moisture can also lead to mould and mildew, which can pose serious health risks. Here are a few things you can do to keep your home nice and dry:

Crack Down
Inspect your foundation, walls, and window frames for cracks or gaps, and seal them up to prevent water from sneaking in.

Easy Eaves
Check your eavestroughs on a rainy day to make sure they’re draining properly and directing water well away from your foundation.

Good Grades
The ground around your foundation should slope away from your home. Even a slight slope in the wrong direction can send water straight toward your basement.

It’s Exhausting
Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom every time you cook or shower. Poor ventilation is one of the biggest contributors to indoor moisture buildup.

Need to Vent
Check the duct pipe that vents your dryer to the outside and make sure it isn’t clogged with lint. A blocked vent pushes warm, moist air back into your home.

Drip Dry
Set up a dehumidifier in the basement and empty it regularly. During humid summer months, it may need to be emptied more often than you’d expect.

Dampness is one of those problems that gets harder to fix the longer it’s ignored. Taking a few simple steps now can protect your home and make it a much healthier place to live.