Creating a Safe and Healthy Home Step 3: Eliminate Moisture, Keep it Dry
go.ncsu.edu/readext?526631
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲Water is absolutely essential to our basic survival. We must have clean fresh water for drinking and cooking. And our lives are made much more healthy and comfortable by having clean water for bathing and cleaning. Water is so essential to our well-being that we pipe fresh water directly into our homes and pipe waste water out. But our buildings have very different needs than the people who occupy them. Water in all its forms, liquid, ice (frozen) vapor (gas) is a killer of our buildings. Excess moisture in buildings also creates conditions that have a negative impact on indoor air quality.
Consider the following:
- High moisture levels in houses over an extended period of time lead to structural problems, rotting wood framing members for example. It is estimated that 10% of the annual timber production in the United States goes to replace wood that rots in service.
- Termites cause about $1 billion in damage to wood structures in the United States each year. Termites require significant amounts of moisture in or near the wood they eat.
- Too much moisture in homes negatively affects indoor air quality and human health.
- Allergy-inducing biological pollutants such as mold and dust mites thrive in moist environments
- Pests such as rats, mice, and cockroaches in homes create many health-related risks. Keeping a home dry helps keep these pests out.