As a new homeowner who recently dealt with mold remediation in the kitchen and bathroom due to a long-term leak, I've noticed some white powdery streaks on the joists above the kitchen. I'm concerned these could be related to humidity or possibly cellulose from the wood. With a vent hood pipe running through this space to the outside, along with electric wires heading to the second floor, I realize the humidity levels in my house are higher than ideal. I'm currently sealing things up, and I've also bought a small dehumidifier from Amazon. Before I close up this area, could anyone suggest effective ways to manage humidity between the first and second floors?
2 Answers
Always remember to use your vent hood while cooking and your bathroom fan while bathing, and let it run for at least 30 minutes after. Both of these appliances should be ducted outdoors, and the bathroom duct should be insulated to prevent moisture buildup. As for the white streaks, given your previous mold issues, it's wise to treat those areas with a product like Concrobium. Make sure your dehumidifier can actually handle the size of the space, as many small ones struggled to keep up.
It really depends on where you live since humidity can be a tricky issue. First, check that your range hood is appropriately sized for your kitchen. There’s a formula based on the BTUs of your cooktop that tells you what CFM your hood should have. If it’s not operating correctly, it can create negative pressure in your house, pulling in air from outside through weak points in your building envelope. Also, cracking a window while using the hood can help draw outside air instead of pulling from those areas. Just remember that portable dehumidifiers might not be powerful enough for the space you have, but it’s worth trying.
Thanks for these insights! We're actually planning to replace the vent hood with an over-the-range microwave/vent, even though I know that's not ideal. I suspect they might not have sealed the hole they made for the vent properly. I'll look into the channel you mentioned for more info!
I hear you! I live in Coastal Texas, and our humidity is off the charts most days. Every little bit helps!