Your Home in Winter

Your Home in = Winter

BRRRR….<= /span>W= hen it comes to winter, that says it all! But what about our houses in winter? =

CONDENSATION on windows is more likely to occur in the winter.

This is due to a combination of h= igh moisture levels in the air and low outside temperatures. Warmer air in the = home can hold more moisture. When this warmer air meets the cold surfaces of windows, we see condensation.

On storm windows, condensation can occur on either the inside or outside windo= w. Condensation on the inside of the inside window suggests the window = is too cold and may be

loose. Condensation= on the inside of the outside window suggests poor weather stripping resulting in inside air escaping to the space between the windows.

Condensation is common on fixed pane windows - many are single pane - and on skylights.

Also common is condensation on ol= der, metal framed sliding doors. The key is keeping the cold separated from the moisture-laden air. If you have a problem with condensation, the addition o= f a storm panel (window or door) and weather stripping will usually help. Howev= er, with some situations (most notably the older, metal framed sliders), the on= ly real fix is to replace the door.

In a new house (less than one year old) you may find severe but temporary cond= ensation problems. The natural drying of wood, plaster, concrete and other building materials will produce an excessive amount of moisture during the first yea= r or two after construction.

VENTILATION - = or its absence - is also noteworthy in the winter.

Basements and crawl spaces - norm= ally WELL VENTILATED - should be closed up for the winter.

Traditionally, it's called bankin= g - to "bank up" hay or leaves around the foundation to cut off air infiltration. This is importa= nt to minimize heat loss and protect the plumbing from freezing. Attics, however, should be vented through the winter as well as the summer.

ICE DAMS = are another common problem, particularly on older homes.<= /p>

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that f= orms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off t= he roof. This can eventually cause water to leak into the home. One of the best ways to prevent ice dams from forming is to increase the ceiling/roof insulation.

Mould – Should You Be Concerned?=

Mould and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) continue to get a lot of attention. As a resul= t, many people are increasingly concerned about the quality and safety of the = air they breathe at home and at work. In some cases, the concern is justified. = In many others, however, the concern is not justified. Concern often results f= rom media hype, scams and/or unqualified professionals anxious to "help&qu= ot; rather than objective, factual information.

How can you know the difference? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Be well informed. Be sure to use objective, reliable sources.

Here are a few web sites we trust= :

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/ (search = for mould)

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php (sear= ch for mould)

www.iaqa.com

&nb= sp; www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/= index.html

www.cdc.gov (search for mould)

2. Keep things= in perspective. There are more than 100,000

types = of mould and fungi in our world. Most of them actually

contribute = to our healthy environment. The mere existence of

mould = does not necessarily signal a hazardous condition.

3. Use background levels as a reference. Any credible air-quality testing should be done by measuring outdoor levels as well as indoor levels and comparing the results.

4. Look for a "credible voice of reason." = Many "experts" do not have the experience and qualifications suggested= by their titles or certifications. Check references and qualifications before accepting their advice and recommendations.

5. Safety is relative. No standards have been set for safe le= vels of biological contaminants (mould, fungi, etc.) in air. Further, it is unli= kely that any such standards will be set because "safe air" is depende= nt on many variables including temperature, humidity, availability of nutrient= s, synergy among contaminants, respiratory sensitivity, duration of exposure, = etc.

Mould and IAQ are legitimate concerns. If you have a concern about mould in your home, Criterium-Jansen Engineers can investigate the root cause and recommend solutions.

C= riterium-Jansen Engineers are licensed Professional Engineers with over 15 years of experie= nce providing residential building inspections With offices in Toronto, Mississ= auga and Orangeville and clients in and around the greater Toronto area (GTA) including Oakville, Burlington, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Milton and Caledon.