The building of tighter homes, those with less airflow through the structure, has reduced heating and cooling costs, but has also increased the potential for moisture problems. Air moving through a home vents moisture to the outside. Drafty old homes were typically dry and cold because of their air leaks.

In cold climates, excessive moisture can result in condensation in the attic. Recent experiments have found that most attic moisture problems result from excessive moisture in a home and air leaks into the attic. Sealing the leaks from the heating space into the attic dramitically reduces heating costs and limits the amount of moisture seeping into the attic.

Maintaining the moisture levels throughout your home is the first step to managing attic moisture problems. Reduce excess sources of moisture in your home, especially during the winter, by addressing the following factors:

• Clothes dryers should always be vented to the outdoors
• Do not use humidifiers to maintain comfort levels of indoor relative humidity in a well-insulated home.
• Never store large volumes of firewood within the heated area of the home. Even if it appears dry, firewood can contain significant amounts of water.
• Exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, etc. must be operating correctly
• Installing child proof electrical outlet caps is an excellent way of reducing air movement and moisture into the wall cavity.

Periodically check your attic during the winter for condensation, frost and other signs of moisture. If you find a problem, have an expert review the situation and suggest possible solutions.

For information on home inspections or commercial property inspections, or to locate an inspector in your area, go to www.npiweb.com.