The Stack Effect

One significant reason behind humidity in your house is a phenomenon referred to as the "stack effect". Crawl spaces and basements are very well known for being damp, dark, humid areas. Even if your house doesn't have groundwater flooding issues and has fantastic plumbing, the areas could be struggling with moisture and humidity problems due to the stack effect.

The stack effect signifies the method in which hot air departs the home through your attic and upper levels. As it does, a vacuum is created below, and new air is pulled up through the basement, crawl space, and lower levels.

Relative Humidity and Your Home

Relative humidity and your home work against each other during hot summer days in Clarksville, Nashville, Bowling Green, and other surrounding areas in KY and TN. Everyone knows that air gets into your house through the lower levels, moves up through the property, and leaves through the upper levels. What happens when outside air has been pulled into the basement or crawl space by way of vents or other openings? Basements and crawl spaces are naturally cooled off through the soil around them which will keep a comparatively consistent temperature year-round. Any type of air that enters this area from outside will be cooled down as well.

Crawlspace Condensation

Crawlspace condensation is a huge contributor to the development of mold in homes all over KY and TN.

Imagine: It's an 80 °F (27 °C) day with 80% relative humidity. The higher the relative humidity amount is, the closer the air is to growing to be "full" of water. Hot air holds lots of water and as it cools down and "shrinks", it's in the position to hold a lot less water. The relative humidity amount reveals just how much humidity is inside the air, relative to just how much it could hold. Air at 80% relative humidity is actually 80% "full" of water. When the humidity rises above 100% outside, it rains.

Think of that damp air getting into your crawl space or basement. This cool, below ground spot drops the temperatures of the air to 68 °F (20 °C).

Because of this, the air's relative humidity will increase, even if no new water is combined with the air. For each 1 °F the temp drops, the relative humidity of the air will go up by 2.2%.

In cases like this, the relative humidity will go up by 26.4% (12 °F x 2.2%). Add the 80% humidity you already had, and you've got 106.4% relative humidity.

However, once the humidity gets to 100%, the air is capable of holding no more water! So this extra humidity is dropped from the air as condensation, which is settled on cool surfaces in the area, such as wood, metal or cement..

Mold and Humidity

Mold and humidity are found in many homes all over the KY and TN region. As the relative humidity in your basement or crawl space increases to 60% or higher, mold will live, thrive, and continue to multiply. That is why it's so crucial to control the levels of relative humidity inside your basement and crawlspace.

Please contact us or call us at 866.682.4420 for more information about getting rid of excess humidity today.