HUMIDITY MATTERS HM-5778B

Condensation will often occur during colder weather when the moist air inside the home comes into contact with cooler surfaces. The moisture in the air can condense to form water droplets or even frost. The risk of condensation increases as the weather gets colder and/or the inside humidity rises.

For windows, doors and skylights, condensation can form:

• on the glass
• on the frames and sashes
• near the weather seals 
• on the walls around a skylight
• between the glass panes if the seal is broken 

1. Buy high performance certified windows, doors and skylights. They are more energy efficient and have less condensation compared to ordinary models.

They are more energy efficient and have less condensation compared to ordinary models.

Features that contribute to better energy efficiency are:

• triple glazing.
• low-emissivity (low-e) coatings on the glass
• inert gas between the glass panes
• thermally improved spacer bars
• insulated frames, sashes and doors
• greater air tightness

Note:  Low-e coatings on high performance windows make the glass more energy efficient by reducing heat loss. However, if the night has been cool and calm and the air is humid, condensation may form on the outside surface of the glass around sunrise. Also, there is a higher risk of condensation if the low-e coating has been applied to the room-side surface of the glass 

2. Proper air circulation near windows is also necessary to minimize condensation.

Air flow across the glass surface helps to keep it warmer, and that is one reason heat sources such as central heating vents and electric baseboards are located beneath windows in many homes. Deep window sills, closed drapes and blinds, and even nearby furniture can block air movement and allow cool air to pool near a window, which can lead to condensation on the glass.

Homes today are more airtight than houses of the past. As a result, moisture can build up inside, especially during winter when windows are kept closed. Dampness, mould growth on walls and heavy condensation on windows are signs of too much moisture.

Over time, this excess wetness can cause poor air quality and damage the structure of a home.

Check your humidifier.
If your furnace has a humidifier, set it lower to reduce humidity levels.

Ventilate.
Ensure that your clothes dryer vents outside. Install exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens, and make sure the fans vent directly to the outside. Consider installing a heat recovery ventilator to increase ventilation and reduce humidity.

Create less moisture.
Use lids on pots when cooking. Keep your showers short. Store wood outdoors.

Keep moisture out.
Cover exposed earth floors in basements and crawl spaces with moisture barriers. Install a sump pump to remove excess moisture under the foundation. Fix water leaks in the basement. Make sure the grading slopes away from your house so water does not flow towards the foundation. Ensure eaves troughs adequately divert water away from your home.

Anyone who is looking at putting hardwood flooring into their home should have a basic understanding of how humidity affects wood flooring. Many times the problems that can arise when wood floors come in contact with water or water vapor can be prevented if the flooring contractor properly educates the homeowner. Unfortunately this information isn’t always communicated to the homeowner leaving them feeling frustrated or even feeling like they’ve been given inferior products or poor craftsmanship. A simple explanation of how wood is affected by water and how to prevent this being a problem for your floor will greatly reduce the incidence of poor experiences.

First and foremost wood is hygroscopic. You’re probably already thinking about hitting the back button but let me define the terms and you’ll see it’s not as difficult to grasp as it might sound. Webster defines hygroscopic as “absorbing or attracting moisture from the air” or “readily absorbing moisture, as from the atmosphere”. So now you know that wood can easily absorb moisture from the air or its environment. That doesn’t sound so bad until you realize that when wood absorbs moisture it will also change in size. This actually affects wood flooring when it dries out as well. To understand this from the manufacturing side of things imagine this. When the sawmill cuts lumber it is what we call “green” lumber meaning that it still retains a lot of the moisture that was traveling up the trunk of the tree to get water to the branches and leaves. This green lumber may have a moisture content of 30%. Now if you made flooring out of this green lumber that was 5” wide, when the pieces of flooring dried out below 30% the flooring would shrink in size. That is why flooring manufacturers dry the lumber down to 6% - 9% before making it into flooring. This is the same with all hardwood trades. Going from 30% down to 9% lumber will lose about 7% of its size. Now that I’ve put you to sleep with that info lets try to get back to the real world and understand how this affects the floor in your home.

Your floor will come in generally around 6% - 9% moisture content. It will need to acclimate (definition: become accustomed to a new climate or environment) to the interior conditions of your home to achieve equilibrium so that it does not shrink or swell as it adjusts to its new environment. This is why experienced flooring contractors will measure the moisture content prior to installing it and will also make sure that your home will have stable conditions (constant humidity and temperature) before installing the floor. If the floor is 9% moisture content and is installed into an environment that is 20% relative humidity the floor will begin to shrink in size and you’ll see gaps between the rows. On the other hand if the floor is 6% and is installed into an environment that is 50% relative humidity it will begin to grow in size which will in turn make the floor “cup” or begin to exhibit a washboard appearance. This is a common unsightly occurrence that many homeowners experience with little understanding of what’s going on. This can be caused by contractors not doing their due diligence on testing moisture in the wood and in the home prior to installation but can also be caused by homeowners not maintaining stable interior moisture conditions in their home. Wood flooring has a comfort zone which is generally considered to be between 30% and 50% relative humidity and between 68 and 72 degrees. Thankfully these are conditions that humans also find comfortable. However you need to understand that this is why you cannot go on vacation and turn off the heat or air conditioning and assume your wood floor will not be affected.

Let me touch on a few rules of thumb to consider when buying wood flooring. First off engineered products made from multiple ply’s of hardwood with a hardwood veneer will be more stable than solid wood flooring in most conditions. Narrower widths are less affected than wider widths and lastly, some species are naturally more stable than others. For example a 6” wide solid Hickory floor will be more likely to move in a higher moisture environment than a 3 1/4” wide engineered red oak floor. Make sure when getting bids for your floor work that you ask the contractor if he will measure and document the moisture content of the flooring and sub-flooring and the interior relative humidity prior to installation. If he says it’s not important then beware that he might not be taking all proper precautions to ensure your wood flooring installation will perform up to expectations. Take care to make sure the interior conditions of your home will stay between 30% and 50% relative humidity. This will require the use of a Humidity Matters hygrometer which measures relative humidity.  Lastly, make sure you understand that if your home dries out in the wintertime expect to see cracks in the floor unless you take care to make sure the relative humidity stays stable. On the other hand if the relative humidity rises expect to see the floor begin to swell and possibly cup unless you can control or lower the humidity during the more humid season. This may sound technical or tedious but keep in mind two other factors when weighing the options. First off, keeping your home in these relative humidity levels will lower the cost of heating your home in the winter and additionally physicians will tell you that it is much healthier to breathe air with these levels of humidity than extremely dry or extremely wet conditions.

 There are two types of moisture problems: leaks and condensation. This guide focuses on condensation problems. When warm, moist air comes into contact with a surface that is too cold, the moisture in the air condenses—or forms water—on the cold surface. The water and frost that can be seen collecting on windows are visible examples of condensation. Condensation can also collect in the attic and inside the exterior walls where it can, over time, cause mould, wood rot and structural decay. Over time, if the air inside is too humid, the result may be damage to the house structure, finishes, furnishings and personal possessions and possibly even the health of those living in the home. Controlling moisture in the home is the best way to prevent mould problems. Leaks from roofs, through walls and from plumbing also cause moisture problems in homes but are more readily detected and solved than indoor condensation-related problems.  

 Moisture-Related Indoor Air Quality Problems A home should have an exchange of air between the indoors and outdoors. Without this air exchange, a home can accumulate moisture and mould can become a problem, and you can experience poor air quality. Mould growing in the home can release mould spores, toxins, odours and this can represent a health concern for members of the household. The exchange of stale air in the home with fresh outdoor air reduces potential air quality problems and helps to prevent moisture buildup in the home. Indoor-outdoor air exchange also can help deal with harmful chemicals that can be released from synthetic fabrics, furnishings, household products, cigarette smoke and burning candles. 

David reached out to me a year ago with an opportunity to purchase personalized Owen Flooring hygrometers to give to my clients when I sell a hardwood floor. This does several positive things.

#1 Creates a conversation about humidity if one hasn’t already taken place. 

#2 A hygrometer also ensures that the RH of a home is proper before installation and also while the homeowner lives in the home.

#3 The fact that these hygrometers include The Owen Flooring brand on them, it reminds our clients years later where to buy their next floor. My favorite part of handing these out is that it shows that we care for our clients, we respect their home and we want to do everything we can to protect their investment.  

I have appreciated working with David as he has developed his Humidity Matters hygrometer. It is a valuable tool for the homeowner and is a great marketing tool as a 'leave-behind' reminder of what floor is installed in the home. It also assists the homeowner in maintaining the proper home environment. David has always been willing to listen to the needs that are presented to build a better product and to respond quickly to requests. He is a pleasure to work with in business. 

"I can state that I have not gotten a call related to condensation from a customer that I have given a hygrometer to. It is a great teaching tool that makes customers aware of issues that can exist.  Having been involved in New Home Customer Service for over 15 years, I would advise any builder client to use the product as a cost effective means of controlling customer expectations and reducing condensation related service calls." 

David's product quite simply is a must for anyone who installs or sells wood flooring. Not only does it provide the customer with valuable information as to the humidity level and temperature in the home but it is a helps separate our company by raising the issue of installation of wood in a proper environment. All of our customer's are not only given one of David's hygrometer's but they are explained the importance of actually using it! 

David's products and philosophies have tremendous value to builders, homeowners and anyone dealing with hardwood products. We include his hygrometers in all of our hardwood sales. These products give us a powerful opportunity to educate our customers and differentiate our stores and services from our competitors. David displays incredible passion and integrity in marketing his products. I would highly recommend David and his products to any store owner, builder, or homeowner. 

“By ensuring each of our homeowners receives a hygrometer as part of their home maintenance kit, they’ll be empowered to monitor and control humidity levels in their homes.  The hygrometers have been helpful in resolving and we believe preventing humidity and condensation related concerns."