Consult a building contractor to determine the adequacy of the vapor barrier in your house. Use a humidity indicator to measure the relative humidity in your house.
The first company you should call is a mold and moisture remediation company. Those folks are pros at knowing what to do first so that your home gets fixed efficiently—and without risk of lingering health or structural issues.
Check Wood Moisture Levels in Crawlspace
One way to determine if your crawlspace has a moisture issue is to check the wood moisture content using a wood moisture meter. These handheld devices are able to tell you if your subfloors and floor joists are holding excessive moisture.
Perform a capillary test. This test will help you know whether moisture seeps into the house, (via walls, foundation or floor) or if it comes from indoor air.
Damp spots could appear in many places—on the floor, walls, or ceilings. Maybe it's a wet spot on the carpet. Or a water stain that has caused discoloration on your wood floor. These stains can also show up on ceilings and walls—something particularly common with leaks from upstairs bathrooms or damaged roofs.
Floors, Ceilings, Windows, & Walls
Inspect ceilings and walls for any discoloration, sagging, bowing, or wet spots. If you have a dropped ceiling, lift up the tiles and inspect the cavity. Check for condensation, or moisture, on the windows or walls. Condensation may be a sign of high indoor humidity.
One way to measure humidity is with a hygrometer. Hygrometers are available at most hardware stores, and they're relatively simple to use. Just place the device in an area of your home that you'd like to measure, and wait for the reading to stabilize.
Moisture and water that get behind the wall cause the backside of the drywall to soften and even become mushy. Look for soft spots or wet spots in the drywall and gently press into them. If the drywall depresses, there is most likely water damage. Mold on your walls' surfaces.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the best way to control mold growth is moisture control; and the three most common places for moisture in your home include your attic, crawl space, and basement.
The first place to check for moisture is the ground near your home. The ground slope is easy to see, but to be sure the moisture is going away from — and not toward — your home, pour a bucket of water near the foundation. If the water moves toward your home, you could have a problem.
The average cost to replace a vapor barrier in a crawl space ranges from $1,500 to $4,000. Vapor barriers are an essential element when you want to reduce humidity and moisture inside it, helping lower humidity and reduce the risk of problems like mold, rot, and water build-up.
Run dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from damp indoor places, like basements. Make sure your roof is in good condition and fix leaks as soon as possible. Aim garden sprinkler sprays away from the house. Be sure gutters and downspouts are clear, and drain water away from your home.
Mold remediation should be done as soon as you detect visible mold or suspect hidden mold growth. Delays in addressing the issue can lead to structural damage, health risks, and increased remediation costs. If you notice a musty odor, water damage, or experience allergy-like symptoms, it's time to act.
If you notice a spreading damp patch on your wall or water dripping from an unexpected spot, your first call should usually be to a professional plumber. Plumbers are trained to identify and fix the source of the leak, whether it's a cracked pipe, a faulty joint, or corrosion in your plumbing system.
The moisture mapping app records wall and concrete floor moisture reading details in all areas, making it easy for users to get the details they need quickly and easily from any mobile device.
A moisture meter is used to measure the percentage of water in a material. The inspector can use it to test the roof decking, support beams, pillars, and other elements for their moisture content. It's common to find areas on the roof where the flashing and roof covering are in less-than-optimal shape.
Are Moisture Meters Accurate? High-quality moisture meters can achieve an accuracy within 0.1% of the wood's moisture content, offering consistent and reliable readings. The accuracy largely depends on the meter's quality and brand. The accuracy of the less expensive digital moisture meter can vary from 5 to 20%.
Here's how to see the temperature or humidity in your home — this works when you are away from home, too. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap Climate in the top shortcuts row. Tap Temperature or Humidity in the next shortcuts row.
High humidity in a house can be caused by many things, but the biggest reason is poor ventilation—in other words, air isn't being circulated properly, which causes the air in your house to become stagnant and humid. The other major reason? Too much air exchange with the outside.
To remove the standing water from your home, you need a device that will soak up the water and put it elsewhere. This is what a sump pump does. There are two types: pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps.
Probably one of the fastest and most practical ways to decrease humidity in the house is to open a window. A fresh, dry breeze will quickly absorb moisture in spaces like your bathroom or kitchen. Turn your air conditioner down if you open a window to prevent your unit from working too hard.