Damp in Your Home? Here Are 4 Potential Causes and Solutions

 

Image Credit.

Damp is a common problem in homes, especially if you live in an older building or a humid area. But just because it’s common, it doesn’t mean that it’s not potentially a problem. Damp can lead to mold, which can, in turn, cause health problems, especially if someone in your household has asthma or another condition.

Another potential issue with damp is that it can damage your property. Your paint and wallpaper might peel off, you might see condensation on your furniture, and over time, you could even have structural issues with damp. 

Here are a few reasons why you might have damp and what you can do about it.

1. Condensation and Damp

The most common form of damp is condensation. This happens when hot air hits cold air and turns into water vapor. You probably see it most in your kitchen and bathroom, where you produce a lot of steam. In small amounts, it’s not a huge issue, but it can lead to black mold.

To deal with condensation, make sure your home is adequately heated. You should also have good ventilation, so while it feels counterintuitive, open your windows, especially if you’ve just produced a lot of steam. 

A dehumidifier can also reduce the amount of moisture in your home. This is also good if you dry clothes inside in the winter.

2. Rising Damp

Rising damp can be a major problem. It’s caused by water rising up the wall through the porous brickwork, and can be common in older brick homes.

You can spot rising damp by looking out for tide marks, peeling wallpaper, or problems with the paint. If it’s lower down, it’s probably rising damp rather than other forms of damp. 

A damp proof course is a barrier designed to stop water from travelling into the walls. It’s made from water-resistant materials. Over time, the DPC can fail or, in older houses, it might never have been installed. It can be disruptive to have a DPC installed, but it will prevent future issues.

3. Faulty Plumbing and Damp

One common issue that can cause something called penetrating damp, which is water that comes from the outside and penetrates the walls, is plumbing. Broken or leaking pipes can cause major damp in a property. Even a small leak can cause a big problem over time if it’s leaking into the walls.

Poor or blocked guttering can also cause damp, as you end up with a constant stream of water running down your exterior walls.

4. Structural Issues and Damp

Penetrating damp can also be caused by structural issues. Basically, if water can get in, you have a potential cause of damp.

For example, if you have a flat roof and you live in a rainy area, this can be a potential weak spot, as water can build up on the roof. If you end up with a leak, you can have a massive damp problem very quickly. In this case, look into flat roof repair right away.

Other issues like cracks in the walls, improperly installed windows and doors can all provide a way for water to get into your home and cause damp.

DIY Tips for Protecting Crawl Spaces from Pests

 DIY Tips for Protecting Crawl Spaces from Pests

Crawl spaces are an important component of homes, and they can have a direct impact on your energy efficiency, air quality, and many other things. One common problem with crawl spaces is that pests are often able to find a way to get into them. This presents a variety of problems, necessitating the need to keep these critters out. Continue reading to learn some DIY tips for protecting your crawl space from pests.

Problems Pests Cause

You might be wondering what kind of problems pests can cause if they are in your crawl space. One of the most serious problems that pests can cause when they get into crawl spaces is that they can decrease your energy efficiency by creating holes, allowing heat and cold to come in under your home. Another problem caused by pests is that if there is any wiring or structural materials in your crawlspace, they are able to chew through these things, potentially causing fires or damage. Perhaps the most serious problem is that many HVAC systems get their air supply from the crawl space. If you have pests down there, they will be leaving their disease-laden feces all over. In addition, if a pest dies down there, they will decompose. This means you and your family are breathing in the diseases and stench of pests. For these reasons, it is very important to keep pests out of your crawl space. If you are unsure if there are pests in your crawl space but see signs like your energy bill increasing, call a pest control company to safely inspect the area.

Clean Your Yard

One of the best ways to keep pests away from your crawl space is to diminish the attractiveness of your yard in the first place. Most crawl space invasions only occur because the pest was initially attracted to the yard. Start by cleaning up any tall grass or weeds around your property. Clean up any wood piles or other accumulations of debris. Finally, keep any pet food, garbage, and fruit from fruit trees cleaned up, as these are all serious attractants.

Seal It Up

This piece of advice is applicable to every pest-related scenario. If you are trying to keep pests out of an area, the best way to keep them out is to ensure that they do not have easy access into the area. When it comes to keeping your crawl space sealed, one of the first things you have to do is inspect your crawl space. Visit pestcontrolanimal.com to learn about animals’ potential entry points. If you find any problems, repair them using whatever material you prefer to use. Many people will use all-weather sealant, aluminum sheeting, or other repair materials. Once you have the crawl space sealed off, you can be less worried about pests making their way in.

Prevent Digging

One common problem that occurs with pests getting into crawl spaces is that they will dig their way into it. This makes it hard to prevent, as you can seal up your crawl space and still have rodents and other animals dig their way in. One way that you can keep animals from digging is to install slabs of metal around the perimeter of your crawl space that extend into the ground a certain depth. This can deter many common digging pests.

 Set Traps

While this is the type of thing you hope does not ever have to work, this can be a great way to keep an infestation from  occurring. If you set different traps in your crawl space, you will be much more likely to immediately take care of the pests when they get in. Setting a few rodent traps is smart. Glue traps are actually a homeowners best friend here, as they are capable of catching all kinds of crawl space invaders, such as snakes, mice, rats, insects, and many more. This is a great and affordable preventive step that can save you from having a serious infestation.

Hire a Pro

One of the smartest things you can do to prevent pests from getting into your crawl space is to hire a professional pest control company, such as District Wildlife Solutions. These companies have years of experience in not only removing pests from homes, but in preventing them from getting into homes and crawl spaces in the first place. In addition, these companies generally offer many other pest-related services, such as attic and crawl space restoration, cleanup and sanitation, and many more.