Excess moisture and water damage inside a home are one of the most common types of damage that can occur, especially in older homes and cottages after a season of rain or heavy snowfall. Water damage can occur for improper sealings, broken plumbing, exposed cottage exteriors, or even poor ventilation on humid days.
While having a cottage by the water is the ideal dream for many people, like these luxury Muskoka cottages for sale, having excess water inside the home is far less desirable and can be incredibly detrimental to the well-being of your home.
Here are three signs that your cottage may have a moisture problem, plus how to minimize their damages.
Mould
The classic and telltale sign that excess moisture is present in a home is mould. If you can’t immediately detect the visual presence of mould, it can usually be identified by a specific musty, stale, and earthy smell. Mould can not only be incredibly damaging to your home, but it can also be hazardous to your health, causing health problems such as sneezing, rashes, fever-like symptoms, coughing, and even the development of asthma.
Mould thrives in damp, humid, or wet conditions and requires moisture to grow and spread. Leaking pipes, former flooding, and sources of high humidity such as shower steam can all cause mould to form. If you find mould is forming in your home, it may signify a moisture problem.
Condensation
A way to spot that there may be high humidity in your cottage is by looking at your windows or glass doors! Warm, humid air inside a home can cause the glass of a home to sweat, especially during cooler months like winter and spring mornings.
If the sweat on the windows is in abundance, it may begin to pool on the windowsills. Depending on how long that water sits there, it can also begin to form mould within the windowsills or grooves of the doors. This can be exacerbated if you keep your blinds or curtains closed in front of the windows, as it causes a lack of airflow to help dry out and distribute the moisture.
Unwanted Pests
Wet drywall and wood can be very appealing to many insects like ants, termites, and beetles, as it provides them with both a meal, drink, and home. Unfortunately, these insects are not only unpleasant to see in your home, but they can also destroy the foundations of your home. Depending on where these insects are deteriorating your structure, it can cause foundational safety issues as well. If you’re finding signs of insects not related to food being left around, it may be a sign that a source of excess moisture somewhere may be to blame.
Preventing Moisture
The easiest short-term solution to help remove excess moisture from your home is to use a dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers help remove moisture from the air and keep things dry – just remember to drain them!
Of course, dehumidifiers are only a temporary solution for minor water concerns. Common sources of water damage can include a loss of missing roof shingle, damaged or clogged eavestroughs, gaps in windowsills, leaking pipes, or improper venting from areas like the bathroom or kitchen. The only true way to stop reoccurring water conditions is to identify and treat the source of them.
If mould has formed, try treating the area with ½ cup of bleach and 1 quart of water; just be sure to use protective equipment such as gloves.