Signs of Moisture In Your Home You Shouldn't Ignore

Don't Ignore These Signs of Moisture In Your Home

In South Carolina, many homes suffer from moisture problems. Moisture control is particularly difficult in older homes, where poor ventilation, inadequate insulation, old windows, and other factors can combine to create serious moisture issues.

Unfortunately, homeowners who experience signs of excess moisture will often procrastinate rather than dealing with the problem immediately. Moisture removal and protection is sometimes put on the back burner, alongside other home repair and improvement projects. In reality, though, there are few things more dangerous for your home than excess moisture, which is why it’s so important to take immediate action if you detect signs of excess humidity in your home.

Too much moisture can lead to a whole host of problems in your home, including pest infestations, structural issues, and mold and mildew that can negatively impact the health of you and your family. Below, we’ll look at some important signs of moisture in your home that you shouldn’t ignore. We’ll also see what sorts of problems moisture can cause for your home and your family. Finally, we’ll take a look at what you can do when it comes to moisture control in your home.

The Telltale Signs of Moisture Problems In Your Home

Some people believe that if their home doesn’t feel damp or humid, this indicates that they don’t have a moisture problem. However, this simply isn’t the case. Of course, high humidity or the perception of dampness in your home may mean that you have too much moisture -- but it’s also possible for one part of your home to feel perfectly dry, while another area is suffering from severe moisture problems.

Rather than relying on perceived moisture in the air, here are six telltale signs that you may have a moisture problem in your home.

Musty Odors from Mold and Mildew

The smell of mold and mildew is difficult to describe: some people compare it to the smell of wet socks, while others say that the odor is similar to rotting wood or wet paper. Generally speaking, mold tends to put off a stronger odor than mildew, though the two often produce a similar smell.

If the interior of your home (or a specific area of your home) smells “damp,” you may have mold and mildew problems. It’s possible to experience severe mold and mildew issues without ever actually seeing either of these fungi, as they can proliferate behind wall paper, above your ceiling, or in hard to reach areas of your basement.

Visible Mold or Mildew

Aside from detecting mold and mildew with your nose, it’s also sometimes possible to spot them with the naked eye. Wallpaper and moulding will sometimes begin to pull away from the surface they’re attached to if mold or mildew is growing underneath them. The more likely place to see mold or mildew, however, is in your basement or crawlspace. Mildew usually presents as a powdery, downy surface growth, while molds are usually thicker and more pervasive.

There are many different kinds of mold and mildew out there, some of which are more dangerous than others. If you can detect visible mold or mildew in your home, it’s important to take action immediately and contact a professional.

Rotten Wood

Have you ever encountered an old, rotten log or tree stump in the woods? When wood takes up too much moisture over time, it begins to rot. This is something you can easily observe in nature: rotten wood is easy to break and has little structural integrity.

If you notice wood in your home beginning to rot, that’s a sign that you may have excess moisture in your home. Wood damage can be a sign of termites, too -- although as we’ll see below, termites and excess moisture often go hand in hand.

Sticking Doors and Windows

Doors and windows should open and close easily, sliding into place rather than sticking or requiring excessive force. Have you noticed that you’re having a difficult time closing your doors, or that your windows suddenly don’t want to open? If so, you may be dealing with moisture problems in your home.

Floorboard Issues

Wooden floorboards are particularly responsive to changing humidity levels. In a home with effective humidity control, your floorboards will stay flat and smooth. If you notice that your floorboards are swollen, separated, cracked, stained, or coming loose, this may be a matter of age -- or it may be a sign that you need to take steps towards moisture removal and protection in your home.

Bubbling or Peeling Wallpaper or Paint

Wallpaper and paint aren’t meant to last forever. Even if you maintain the appropriate level of humidity in your home, you’ll eventually find yourself needing to replace wallpaper or put on a new coat of paint.

However, excessive bubbling or peeling of paint or wallpaper isn’t normal. This is often a problem in bathrooms, where poor ventilation can lead to wallpaper pulling away from the wall. If you’re experiencing issues with the paint or wallpaper in your home, you may have moisture problems.

Water Stains On Your Ceiling

Have you recently noticed a stain appear on your ceiling? These stains can be brown or yellow, or simply a slightly darker shade of whatever color your ceiling is painted.

Ceiling stains are caused by water, typically from a pipe that’s leaking in the ceiling. Some people will be tempted to paint over the stain and ignore it, but this isn’t a good idea. Even a small ceiling stain can be a sign of a major water leak, and taking care of the leak itself is essential.

The Dangers of Excess Moisture in Your Home

If you encounter any of the above signs of moisture in your home, you shouldn’t ignore them. Excessive moisture can cause a range of problems in your home.

First, moisture problems create the perfect conditions for a number of pests. Some species of roaches are drawn to moisture, as are mosquitoes. Termites in particular are attracted to moist conditions. The combination of moisture and termites together can spell disaster for your home.

Even if you’re not experiencing an increase in pest problems, moisture can pose a threat to the structural integrity of your home. Excessive moisture can lead to rotting wood, including walls, ceilings, floors, and the structural aspect of your home. Over time, too much moisture can even compromise the foundation of your home. This can result in the need for expensive repairs.

Worst of all, excess moisture often results in the proliferation of mold and mildew in your home. While these fungi can contribute to allergy symptoms for some people, sensitive individuals can have extreme and dangerous reactions to specific types of mold and mildew. This is one reason why moisture removal and protection is so important for the health and safety of your family.

Get Help with Moisture Control

If you’re experiencing moisture problems in your home, don’t try to address them on your own. Contact the professionals at Home Pest Control. We have the knowledge and experience to help you with moisture control in your home. One of our expert technicians will assess your home for moisture problems, creating a customized moisture control treatment plan to address your specific needs.

Of course, eliminating moisture is just one of many preventive steps you can take to keep pests out of your home. Want to learn more about how to prevent pests all year long? Download our free pest control calendar for homeowners!