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GAZETTE Newspapers
By: Arthur S. Lazerow
Title:
Controlling Moisture; Faulty Fireplace
Question: Solomon from
Clinton, Md. emailed “My wife and I are arguing over what I
think is too much humidity in our home. I am worried about mold
growth and she claims her house plants need high humidity. I
bought a humidity meter from the local cigar shop and our house
is around 60%. Who is right.”
Answer: Most recommendations for humidity levels in residences
I have studied suggest that a humidity level of about 45% is
optimal for human living conditions. Lower humidity on a
sustained basis results in dry skin and dry nasal passages.
Humidity levels above 50% promote mold growth, as you feared.
The important issue is why is your home so humid? I can think
several possible causes. The first is routine domestic
activities in your home. Cooking without lids, bathing, hanging
wet clothes indoors and using unvented clothes dryers elevate
humidity levels. Use exhaust fans for at least 15 minutes in
kitchen and bathrooms and check your clothes dryer. Check your
home for plumbing leaks. Soaked building materials lead to high
humidity. A faulty or improperly combusting flame-fired heating
system or water heater will release both moisture and carbon
monoxide into the air. Is anyone complaining of headaches in
your home? If so, there may be slight but significant CO
problem, which could be deadly if it gets worse. Have your
equipment maintained by a licensed contractor.
Are there any new construction materials in your home? Green
lumber, fresh concrete and masonry fireplaces are full of
moisture. A humidifier that is not operating properly could be
dumping moisture into your home. Have it serviced. Finally,
check the grading and exterior conditions around your home.
Exterior problems relating to the water shedding ability of your
home and lot are very common findings during home inspections.
Negotiate with your wife a reduction in the humidity level to
about 45%. Her house plants will still be happy, but your
interior environment will be healthier.
Question: Elaine emailed “I
swore all last winter that our fireplace was not working
properly but we did not do anything about it. We just made our
first fire this fall and it still seems to me to be difficult to
light and our wood does not burn well. What should we do?”
Answer: Let’s assume it is not the wood you are burning. If the
wood is properly aged, that should not be the problem. If the
flue is partially blocked, it will not draft properly. Take a
flashlight and mirror and look up the chimney. If you see
daylight at top, there probably is no blockage. Beyond these
factors, there are three important aspects of fireplace design
that determine its proper operation.
Go outside and check that the chimney is at least two feet above
the roof or any other structure within ten feet of it. Next,
measure the flue opening inside the firebox and compare it with
the size of the firebox. The flue opening must be larger than
one-twelfth the size of the firebox opening. For instance, a
30” by 36” firebox (1080 sq. inches) and a flue of 8” by 12” (96
sq. inches) results in a ratio of one-eleventh, which is
satisfactory.
Finally, how air tight is your house? Combustion air must be
readily available. If your house is too tight, the fireplace
may be struggling to find combustion air. Try this, open a
window in the room with the fireplace and start a fire. If a
marked improvement occurs, this is the problem.
A final thought is how long ago was the last visit from a
professional chimney sweep? As a routine matter, every
fireplace should be cleaned after one cord of wood has been
burned since the last cleaning. A blockage or other chimney
problem may be developing that should be diagnosed by a
knowledgeable chimney mechanic. If the three inquiries above do
not lead to the cause of your concern, call a chimney sweep. A
poorly burning fire can be a carbon monoxide hazard.
Have a question
relating to housing or an environmental issue? To contact Mr.
Lazerow, click on “Contact Us” at Albaninspect.com.
Mention “Gazette Newspapers” in your question. Every question
will be answered and some will be included in this column.
Arthur Lazerow, president of Alban Home Inspection Service,
Inc., was a homebuilder for 25 years and is now a nationally
certified ASHI home inspector, having performed more than 5,000
inspections during the past 10 years. He can be heard every
Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. as co-host of Real Estate Today
on WMET 1160 AM.
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