This destructive moisture can be in the form of water and/or dampness and can be man-made or generated by nature. The list of possible sources of moisture could be a roof leak, defective gutter drain, plumbing (pipe) leak, natural created moisture and man-made moisture. Roof leaks can be from problems with an old roof to failures caused by heavy snow loads from the recent storms. Water supply pipes can develop small leaks especially old galvanized steel and gray polybutylene pipe and go unnoticed. Sewage drain leaks most times are caused by defective toilet wax seal under the toilet. A loose toilet or dark stains in the vinyl flooring indicate a leaking toilet seal. Nature releases moisture through the soil into a crawl space under the home. A layer of 6 mil black plastic will normally control this. Wire screen vents (1/4" mesh) around the foundation allows any moisture to escape.
In newer homes, if everything is working properly, this moisture is safely vented to the outside. If a ventilation system fails and goes unnoticed, a costly repair may result. Replacement of floors, sub-structure and roof components is costly because of wood decay fungus (rot). In older homes moisture trapped in unvented crawl space can lead to serious fungal rot, carpenter ants and wood boring beetle problems. Old form lumber and wood debris left under the house can also invite these active wood destroying organisms into your home. Certain types of landscaping around the foundation can also contribute to the possibility creating a haven for these wood destroying organisms.
Many "sick buildings" are caused by excessive moisture leading to mold problems. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. Mold grows where there is moisture, warmth and food. Materials like wood and paper, drywall, or dust are very conducive for it's growth. Mold grows well between 60º & 80º. The way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Showers, plants, people, cooking, clothes' dryers, roof and plumbing leaks are sources of moisture. Proper ventilation in your home is the only way to eliminate excessive moisture. Mold emits a toxic gas, called mycotoxins. These toxins do not affect only select people, like typical allergens, when inhaled these mold spores affect everyone to some degree
Man creates large amounts of moisture within the home that MUST be vented to the outside. Showers, cooking, clothes' dryers and plants generate large amounts of moisture. Bath exhaust fans should never be vented into the attic. A bath exhaust fan at 800 cfm should run for 30 minutes after a shower. Use your kitchen fan while cooking. A clothes dryer should never be vented into the foundation crawl space. The textbook "Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning" states that drying the laundry of an average family of four produces 26 pounds of moisture (water). Check your attic for black mold stains, inspect the dryer vent for lint dust blockage and under your home for water annually. Maintaining warmth & humidity under 60% in your home is critical. A room at 60º will hold more moisture than a room at 75º. Many homeowners create a problem in older homes by covering the soffit vents with insulation thereby restricting air flow in the attic or the foundation vents. In addition a 20 year old home may not have adequate roof ventilation trapping large amounts of moisture in the attic.
According to the New York Occupational and Environmental Health Center, people with prolonged exposure to mycotoxins from Stachybotrysand other fungi experienced chronic fatigue, lose of balance, irritability, memory loss, and difficulty speaking. A 1999 Mayo Clinic study pegged nearly all the chronic sinus infections afflicting 37 million Americans to molds. Recent studies also have linked molds to the tripling of the asthma rate over the past 20 years.
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