HOME DEHUMIDIFIERS | BASEMENT DEHUMIDIFIER

Humidity and moisture in your crawl space can often lead to a serious problem for homeowners not using a crawl space Dehumidifier; wood rot. Wood rot, also called wood decay, is caused by microscopic organisms that belong to the fungi group. These organisms are what cause the wood to actually decay.

Wood is comprised of 3 major components: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Wood rots because the fungi “eat” these 3 major components of wood cells by releasing enzymes that digest wood cells.

Wood that has a moisture content of 20% or above is very susceptible to rotting. The attacking fungi require 4 conditions for colonization:

1) Adequate oxygen supply

2) Temperature range between 40-100 degrees Fahrenheit

3) Constant moisture source

4) Adequate supply of food (wood)

Untreated moisture damage can cause a decrease in your property value by 10% to 15% according to the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC).

Catching moisture problems like wood rot in the early stages will save you both money and headaches. There are several warning signs to alert you that moisture may be damaging your home: excessive condensation on windows, blistering or peeling paint, discolored wood surfaces, splits across the wood grain, mold spots, musty odors and standing water in your crawl space.

If you notice any of these warning signs, you need to determine where the moisture is coming from. Check for plumbing leaks, roof leaks, debris filled gutter and downspouts, foundation cracks and poorly graded soil that drains towards your home. In your crawlspace, look for mold stains on the foundation walls and/or puddled water.

Moist, humid air from your crawlspace increases the moisture content of the wood in your home, making it vulnerable to wood rot. By installing a vapor barrier and a high grade crawl space dehumidifier, you can protect the value of your home.

About the Author – Chuck Jaymes is an indoor air quality professional and
offers reviews and comparisons about
Crawl Space Dehumidfier
for OscarAir, Inc.

If your home has a crawl space, there is a high chance that it could accumulate a significant amount of moisture. This may cause a number of problems, including the build up of mold and mildew. As a result, your entire family may begin to experience some health issues. This is where a Dehumidifier can help.

Basically, crawl space dehumidifiers remove moisture in areas with restricted space. They also can remedy complications that arise because of the moisture such as mold, mildew, wood rot and odor. When excessive moisture gets into your house through crawl spaces, a breeding ground is created for fungi, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. Getting rid of mold is very difficult. Conventional dehumidifiers will be very challenged to fit in such a small space.

The most effective way of dealing with mold is to remove the excess moisture. Mold has a difficult time thriving in a dry environment. The crawl space dehumidifier works by drying the air. As a result, the environment will not be efficient for mold to grow. By removing the moisture you lessen the chance for wood rot and eliminate bad odors.

Here a couple of examples in which a dehumidifier can help:

Improved Health of Your Family- When the environment in the house is dry, mold will not grow. Mold is known as a factor for asthma and other allergic reactions. Young children, elderly and those with weakened immune systems are especially at risk

Proper Maintenance of Your Home- Dampness can result in a lot of damage to your home. For instance, you may have to repair your house when the wood gets rotten. The crawl space dehumidifier can prevent this.

There are different types of crawl space dehumidifiers that you can choose from. They are relatively cheap and can save you a lot of money in the long run. You certainly do not want to take them for granted.

Gary enjoys writing and studying about integrative medicine. Not only does he enjoy writing about various health topics, he has also written about dehumidifiers. You can check out his latest website on the
crawl space dehumidifier and find out the latest news.

Many homes that don’t have a basement do have a crawl space. This is especially true in the southeastern United States. Although you may not realize it, excessive moisture and humidity are wafting up from your crawl space into your home. This is where a high quality crawl space Dehumidifier comes into play.

The moisture laden air entering your home from the crawl space can affect your health and damage your home. Mold, mildew, wood rot and termites are just a few of the problems you will encounter if the high humidity in your crawl space is left unchecked. Mold can cause health problems and allergic reactions. Wood rot and termites can cause serious and expensive structural damage. The one thing mold, wood rot and termites have in common is that they need a source of moisture to survive. By controlling the moisture, you can protect both your health and your investment.

Many homeowners make the mistake of trying to use appliance grade dehumidifiers in their crawl space. Home and basement dehumidifiers ARE NOT designed and built for harsh crawl space environments. Either they can’t to the job required or they are over sized units for a tight crawl space. Appliance grade dehumidifiers can freeze up in outdoor climates or will run continuously because they are being overworked. This will add significantly to your electric bill.

It’s important to choose a dehumidifier that was designed and built for a crawl space environment. These units are designed to fit in a crawl space and are very energy efficient. When used with a vapor barrier, a crawl space dehumidifier can dramatically reduce the relative humidity levels in your home. Don’t trust some kid at Lowe’s or Home Depot to sell you the correct dehumidifier for your crawl space. Seek out professionals who feature equipment that was meant to solve your crawl space humidity problems.

About the Author – Chuck Jaymes is an indoor air quality professional and
offers reviews and comparisons about
Crawl Space Dehumidifier
for OscarAir, Inc.

Many homes that don’t have a basement do have a crawl space. This is especially true in the southeastern United States. Although you may not realize it, excessive moisture and humidity are wafting up from your crawl space into your home. This is where a high quality crawl space Dehumidifier comes into play.

The moisture laden air entering your home from the crawl space can affect your health and damage your home. Mold, mildew, wood rot and termites are just a few of the problems you will encounter if the high humidity in your crawl space is left unchecked. Mold can cause health problems and allergic reactions. Wood rot and termites can cause serious and expensive structural damage. The one thing mold, wood rot and termites have in common is that they need a source of moisture to survive. By controlling the moisture, you can protect both your health and your investment.

Many homeowners make the mistake of trying to use appliance grade dehumidifiers in their crawl space. Home and basement dehumidifiers ARE NOT designed and built for harsh crawl space environments. Either they can’t to the job required or they are over sized units for a tight crawl space. Appliance grade dehumidifiers can freeze up in outdoor climates or will run continuously because they are being overworked. This will add significantly to your electric bill.

It’s important to choose a dehumidifier that was designed and built for a crawl space environment. These units are designed to fit in a crawl space and are very energy efficient. When used with a vapor barrier, a crawl space dehumidifier can dramatically reduce the relative humidity levels in your home. Don’t trust some kid at Lowe’s or Home Depot to sell you the correct dehumidifier for your crawl space. Seek out professionals who feature equipment that was meant to solve your crawl space humidity problems.

About the Author – Chuck Jaymes is an indoor air quality professional and
offers reviews and comparisons about
Crawl Space Dehumidifier
for OscarAir, Inc.