Laundry Basket DresserLaundry BasketsLaundry IdeasLaundry Room Basket IdeasSmall Laundry Room IdeasWashing BasketsKitchen DresserDimensions 35X41X30Laundry OrganizationForwardThis just gives me the idea of how nice it would be to have some sort of way to store each family member's laundry. Nothing else about it is too appealing. But this is a pretty compact way to do something like that.Get free estimates from qualified pros Get free quotes » Humidity doesn’t just make you uncomfortable. It also causes problems and health hazards at every level of the home. Here is a bottom-to-top summary of some of the dangers of high humidity, and some solutions for each problem.Humid weather simply exacerbates moisture problems that are often a concern in crawl spaces and basements. Moisture from the ground works with moisture from the humid air to generate condensation on walls and other surfaces, and create muggy basement smells and atmospheres. In turn, this can translate to mold and mildew issues.
To avoid these problems, it is important to take steps to minimize moisture below the main floor of the home.If humidity is an issue in any season, foundation vents should be left open all year to help the foundation dry out as much as possible. On the other hand, close basement windows and doors to keep out humid summer weather.If humidity is an issue for a basement, insulate basement walls and run a dehumidifier. Rigid foam insulation is one good option, as it is essentially waterproof. However, it must be covered with drywall or another fire barrier. Attach a humidistat to the dehumidifier to control the humidity levels.Crawl spaces should be covered with polyethylene or other thick, solid vapor barrier to keep moisture from the ground from creating bigger problems. Crawl spaces with moisture barriers also should have one square foot of vent area for every 1,500 square feet of crawl space area, according to Michigan State University (MSU) researchers. Crawl spaces without moisture barriers should have one square foot of venting per 150 square feet of space.
Humid weather can also leave condensation on water pipes and toilet tanks. Again, this condensation can also lead to mold and mildew problems. If the toilet tank regularly beads with condensation, consider installing waterproof insulation inside the tank. Also wrap insulation around water pipes to minimize condensation.Moving up from the basement, the floor is the next likely victim of humidity problems. Mold and mildew can get into wood flooring or carpets, and may be hard to completely remove. It is best to avoid such problems by reducing humidity. Air conditioning systems reduce humidity while reducing the temperature, if they are installed correctly.Mildewed carpet should be cleaned with an electric shampoo machine. If musty odors develop on carpet, either replace the entire carpet or have it professionally cleaned and dried off-site. Replace musty or damp padding.If mildew develops on wood flooring, scrub it off with trisodium phosphate or quaternary disinfectants, then rinse and dry thoroughly, and add a mildew-resistant paint.
Humidity can also wreak havoc on clothes, food and other stored items. Dry foods can draw in moisture and quickly go stale if humidity exceeds 60 percent. Cans may rust and leak in humid weather. Damaged or swollen cans should be tossed out. If humidity is an issue, keep stored food in an air-conditioned space.Reduce humidity damage to clothing with chemical absorbents or through proper ventilation. Use silica gel packets or other moisture-absorbing materials if you plan to tightly close all closet doors and trunks. The other option is to leave closet doors open and use fans to improve air circulation. Also separate clothes within each closet to allow airflow between items.Humid air can also build up in walls, which can become soggy over time, and may even attract mold and mildew. Interior and exterior paint can also bubble and peel under extended humid conditions.To minimize such problems, boost wall insulation and consider vapor-retardant paints. Also caulk or weather strip all gaps and cracks around the walls, baseboards, doors and windows.
According to MSU researchers, such sealing work can minimize moisture problems in walls.Finally, attics can get hot and uncomfortably damp in humid weather. Be sure to properly ventilate the attic. If the attic does not have a vapor barrier (which may not be a necessity in many cases), it should have one square foot of venting per 150 square feet of attic, according to MSU research. For areas with vapor barriers, one foot of venting per 300 square feet of attic is acceptable.Humid weather can cause a variety of home problems and hazards, but they can all be prevented or remedied with some care and diligence.Wood is a perennially popular fixture for both interior and exterior construction. It's durable and has the potential to last a long time – but it's far from invincible. In this article, we'll look at how cold temperatures can affect your timber and what steps you can take to protect it from the winter.To understand why exposure to hot or cold temperatures can alter wood, we have to go back to basics with chemistry.
At its most basic level, timber is made of particles. When these are imbued with energy (e.g. heat), they will move faster and further apart, which in turn increases the rate of reaction. On the other hand, when we detract energy, particles slow down – eventually joining together in a big group. We can see this principle in action when we boil or freeze water. As a natural material, wood will always contain some degree of moisture (even if it's been treated). How much water it contains plays a role in dictating how strong and dense the timber is, as well as several other properties.As we've noted in previous blogs, wood can swell, shrink and warp when its moisture content changes. Exposure to differing temperatures, as well as the relative humidity of the surrounding air, can precipitate these changes and if they're allowed to occur regularly – can severely hamper the function of wood.There's a couple of ways that cold weather can affect wooden fixtures inside your home. When temperatures drop, most people will batten down the hatches – closing windows and doors, and cranking up their heating systems.
This tends to cause the internal air to dry out and has the knock-on effect of drawing moisture from your timber. You might notice exaggerated effects like cracking and shrinking in wood placed near heaters or vents.When the weather drops below freezing point, much of the ambient moisture in the air is trapped as ice or frost, which can also intensify the rate of shrinking or cracking.Other factors can also mitigate or exacerbate the rate at which this happens – such as whether or not the wood has been treated, the species of tree that it comes from, the width of the material and additions like paints or veneers.To protect interior wood from the worst the elements have to throw at it, one quick fix is to install a humidifier, which will help you keep the ambient moisture in balance.While the principle of moisture movement applies to exterior wood in the same way – it's typically exposed to a lot more of the elements than interior timber. From the delivery stage until its final placement – exterior wood is subject to an assault by moisture.
Location can also play a big role in how exposed wood is. For instance, effects can be exaggerated in places near to a large body of water or that receive regular deluges of rainfall.And, while it's not possible to completely stop the movement of moisture in external timber – there are ways to slow it.Finishes: Applying a finish is one way to slow the rate at which moisture moves, but these products can themselves be affected by temperature pre-application, so make sure to pay attention to storage instructions.When dealing with wood that'll be used for the outdoors, it's a good idea to sand it down first to ensure primers and finishes will adhere properly. Similarly, make sure it's sealed completely – taking care to fill in every nook and cranny.Kiln-Drying: Drying timber via kiln reduces its moisture content, but it'll still acclimatise to the ambient moisture content in the surrounding environment.Acclimating: When transporting and storing your timber, be sure to give it a chance to acclimate to the surrounding climate.
For more tips on this, check out our guide to on-site storage.Treated Products: Specially treated products can be particularly resistant to the effects of the cold. For instance Accoya wood, which is modified using the chemical compound acetic anhydride, boasts high levels of durability and dimensional stability – even when exposed to the most inhospitable climates.While repeated cycles of heat and cold can damage your wood, you can rest easy in the knowledge that timber intended for outdoor usage will typically be prepared for its role.For example, outdoor wooden furniture will be built with thick pieces and joints that decrease how much is exposed to the elements.Similarly, wood has something of a natural tolerance in terms of how much it can expand and contract before succumbing to warping or shrinkage.If you've got any tips on protecting wood from the cold, or think we've missed anything obvious be sure to let us know on Twitter.And if you're looking for treated wood that can stand up to the elements, be sure to get in touch today.