The first step is to reduce the humidity level by controlling the amount of water vapor that goes in the air. The following suggestions will reduce the humidity levels in the home:
- Disconnect any humidifiers.
- Cover any earth floors in basements or crawl spaces with a moisture barrier.
- Install a sump pump to remove excessive moisture from the soil under the slab.
- Fix all water leaks into the basement.
- Don’t allow any standing water in the house or against the foundation wall.
- Make sure the ground slopes away from the foundation wall and that there are properly functioning eavestroughs around the house.
- Ventilate kitchens and bathrooms during use by using exhaust fans. Showers, humidity, cooking and people produce large quantities of moisture on a daily basis.
- Use a dehumidifier especially in damp or new basements.
- Install a Heat Recovery Ventilation system and ensure that it is always on.
- Rebates are available on ENERGY STAR® dehumidifiers during Instant Rebate campaigns and high efficiency HRVs year round.