Moisture problems can appear in just about any area of a building. We specialize in solving these problems in order to get to the root cause. Many “fixes” to these problems are just band-aids and don’t get to the source. Common problems seen in homes and buildings include:
How do we diagnose these problems? Depending what kind of problem is happening, we may use a combination of visual inspections, moisture meters, infrared cameras, ventilation measurement devices, a blower door, and years of experience evaluating problems in buildings.
What are some potential solutions? It can vary widely depending on the situation, but considerations may include correcting gutters or downspouts, adjusting grading around the foundation, using bath exhaust fans, repair or replacement of bath exhaust fans, sealing up holes in ceilings or walls, correcting attic ventilation systems, installing sump pumps, and many more.
Indoor relative humidity. We recommend that every home and building have a way to measure and monitor indoor relative humidity. When relative humidity is too high such as above 60%, it can indicate there is a problem in the home that needs resolved. When relative humidity is too low such as below 30%, it can indicate the home is too dry and needs resolved. Monitoring humidity can be done by installing a thermostat that will show indoor humidity such as many varieties of Ecobee, nest, Sensi, and Honeywell. You can also purchase single, standalone gauges such as the P3 International Mold Alert. The best methods for monitoring will store and chart your data. This involves purchasing an indoor air quality monitor such as Awair, U-Hoo, or Foobot; these sensors will allow you to track your tends of Rh hour-by-hour, day-by-day, week-by-week, etc.