I live in Tennessee, so humidity, especially when warmer weather starts to come around is a HUGE issue. Most people only consider the humidity outside. Those that do consider it indoors usually only worry about it in the wintertime when having the heat on is drying out their skin, sinuses (with dryness-related nasal nosebleeds as a behavior driver), eyes, etc.—in other words, the lack of moisture is what concerns them and makes them uncomfortable. I’m here to tell you, though, that excess and trapped moisture and improper ventilation indoors can be a budding health hazard.
Why?
Because, excess moisture is the #1 cause of indoor mold growth—more problematic than leaks even. This is mostly because 1) our hermetically sealed, energy-efficient homes are constructed with materials that trap air and moisture, and 2) a catastrophic leak or a significant water intrusion issue is more difficult to ignore. Consider this, a pipe bursts and you have a waterfall in your kitchen. You are probably going to immediately call a plumber to stop the leak, fix the pipe, and then repair the damage. On the other hand, if your cooktop fan is pumping all of the steam from your boiling pots directly into your soffit and creating significant mold growth in your attic, you may not even be aware of the issue, so that you can address it. (Note: Even small, slow leaks can produce massive amounts of water, especially if they aren’t promptly addressed.) Thus, knowing some simple tips for controlling that moisture can mean a big difference in the overall health of your home. This is especially pertinent for those people who suffer from allergies, asthma, and chronic illness. The presence of even a very small amount of mold in the home can lead to acute health issues, like chronic sinusitis, trouble breathing, vertigo, fatigue, upper respiratory issues, and much more for this population of people.