Insulation and Moisture

How Does It Work? | Moisture | Types of Insulation | Locations | When to Replace

Insulation deals with the temperature of the air, and moisture seems like one of the last things you would worry about when thinking about insulating your home. However, moisture is a problem for insulation, and more insulation has the potential to increase its threat. When you insulate a wall, while you increase the temperature on the indoor side of the wall you ultimately decrease the temperature within the wall itself. Now that the temperature has changed, water vapor may condense in the wall with the insulation. This can lead to rotting and mold. There are things you can do to prevent this.

1. Make sure that all paths that rain might take to the interior of your house are sealed. The best way to do this is to make sure that your gutters are in working order and that if you have an overhang on your house, it is undamaged. Water simply running down the side of your house, even with adequate siding is enough to do irreparable damage to your walls and insulation.
2. Good ventilation in the interior of your home is important to avoiding moisture buildup in your walls. Human activities such as bathing, cooking and cleaningcontribute significantly to the amount of water vapor in your home. The best way to prevent problems from this is to have adequate ventilation from fans in your kitchen and bathroom. Also, be sure that the vents from these fans go directly outside and not to your attic.
3. There is always some moisture that is impossible to physically remove yourself. Moisture will end up in your attic. To combat its effects on your walls and insulation, use a dehumidifier to leech water vapor from the air.

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The EPA’s website has helpful articles on mold and moisture.