Humidity effects on your house range from structural issues, to health concerns, to just plain old uncomfortable living. But where’s the humidity coming from? The answer may be very close—like right beneath your feet.

The crawl space or basement of a house are often zones of high humidity. These enclosed spaces can form a reservoir of water vapor that continuously migrates upwards into living spaces. Infiltrating humidity, in turn, degrades wooden floor structure, triggers indoor mold growth and makes keeping the house comfortable more difficult in all seasons.

To control humidity effects originating beneath the house, check out these potential sources:

• Pipes leaking. Drips and seepage from aging plumbing may be inconspicuous, but these water sources can keep a crawl space or basement continuously damp. This moisture turns into humidity that penetrates the house.
• Bathroom issues. Fixtures may leak water from hidden defects, rotting the floor directly beneath and soaking the area under the house. A defective shower stall pan, enclosed beneath the stall, is a frequent suspect for covert bathroom leakage.
• Overflowing gutters. If your gutters resemble Niagara Falls during heavy rain, they’re probably clogged due to leaves or other debris. The cascade of water saturates soil adjacent to the foundation or basement, causing chronic moisture in these areas that may raise household humidity.
• Rising ground water. A naturally high water table in the soil beneath the house may continuously send water upwards through the soil and into the crawl space or infiltrate though cracks in the concrete basement floor.

Removing The Source

If leaky pipes are suspected, a professional plumber can pinpoint the problems and suggest options for repair. The same goes for diagnosing hidden leakage originating from a shower stall or bathtub drain. Cleaning gutters three times a year is good insurance against clogs that cause overflows. For ground water issues, a sump pump is recommended to continuously collect and remove infiltrating water. Ultimately, installation of a dehumidifier in the basement or crawl space may be required for long-term humidity control.

For more about dealing with humidity effects originating under your house, contact Powers Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.