1. Make sure you have and use properly installed exhaust fans in bathrooms and the kitchen. Be sure those fans and the clothes dryer exhaust to the outside and there is no blockage of the exhaust vents.
2. Make sure your foundation stays dry; improve the drainage (slope) all around the house. Inspect all gutters and downspouts to be sure they are in good repair and not blocked. Downspout extenders should move water well away from the foundation.
3. Assess and reduce indoor sources (unvented combustion, houseplants, aquariums, wet mopping, long showers, fountains, etc.).
4. If moisture reduction in the air cannot be achieved using these methods, evaluate the need for a dehumidifier that empties water directly into a drain. If excessive moisture is a problem in the winter, inspect the furnace to see if it has a humidifier attached to add moisture to the air; if needed, reduce the moisture level setting.
5. Regularly monitor the relative humidity in your home. To do this a digital humidity/temperature detector may be purchased at a hardware store for less than $30.00. In cold climates, a comfortable relative humidity inside the home will be between 35 and 50 percent.
For more information on moisture control and molds go to mold in your home.
