The Effects Of Humidity On The Valuation Of Your House
If you own a home, then you've likely done some serious work to keep it safe, and protect it as much as you can. If you have a good insurance agent, he or she has given your home a good inspection, and recommended some tips on how to keep your insurance premiums down. But there is one danger to your home that many people overlook, that can cause some significant damage over time. What is this hidden enemy of high home values? Humidity.
What kind of damage does humidity do? Well for starters, it can swell wooden furniture over time, and give strange look. Any plaster work you have had done in your house may begin to break down over time. Doors and door frames may begin to not match properly, making them difficult to close without using some force.
Other things that humidity can do is to encourage the growing of mold and mildew, making it much more difficult to keep your bathroom and kitchen clean. Humid air is also an ideal breeding ground for certain germs which may cause some adverse allergic reactions in your family.
What makes the air so sticky with moisture? Generally the weather is the biggest culprit. It's difficult to keep the indoor humidity any amount lower than outside, unless you've got some home technology installed. However, other sources can add just as much, if not more, than weather based humidity. These are things like frequent hot showers, extended boiling of water for coffee or stews, and drying clothes several times a day. Other things can add a smaller amount to the humidity, like wet pets, or wet clothes piled on the floor.
How do you get rid of humidity? There are plenty of ways. You can keep the windows open in rooms where you are doing activities that are producing humidity. You can arrange your dryer so most of the humidity is channeled outside rather than in your home. You can install fans in your bathrooms, and encourage family members to run them on full speed when they take baths or shower, to keep the humidity from seeping into your house and doing some damage.
Of course, the easiest way to remove humidity from your home is to get a dehumidifier. These range from fairly inexpensive, portable units that are used in single rooms, to large central units that can be used to dehumidify your entire house. While these can get expensive, remember that you are offsetting plenty of damage that may be done in the long run. When you have a dehumidifier in your home, you will not only be more comfortable, but your home will likely retain more of its value over time.