Is moisture bad for your health?

Damage to health due to humidity: we should avoid it, agree? Every room has a certain humidity level: when it gets too high, it can be harmful to your health. Find out here what impact too high humidity has on your health.

When is there too much moisture in the house?

There is moisture in every room, this is normal. Moreover, a normal room usually has a humidity percentage between 40% and 60%. That is, about half of the air in an indoor space consists of particles of water vapour. When the humidity is normal, you won't notice this. Only when the air feels dry or clammy, the humidity may not be right. And when the humidity is too low or too high, it causes damage to your health.

Causes of too much moisture in the home

Excessive humidity has several types of causes. Some common ones are:

Condensation. Condensation moisture often occurs in the bathroom or in the kitchen, but other rooms can also struggle with it. In the bathroom, it is important to have a window or a ventilation system. In the kitchen, a fume hood is important.

Penetrating moisture. Because a wall was exposed to rainstorms for a long period of time, moisture can build up because the water cannot escape properly. The ideal solution to make exterior walls water repellent is using paint or hydrofuge that absorbs the water.

Rising damp. Groundwater is absorbed by the foundation and walls, so the worst moisture spots are near the ground.

A leak or clogged gutter. A clogged gutter or a leak can also cause moisture. After all, a sizeable amount of water accumulates.

Of course, condensation is normal in kitchens or bathrooms. Ventilation is important here, allowing this moisture to leave. When you do not ventilate enough, excessive humidity is created, which can be harmful to your health.

Leakage and rising damp are not only harmful to your home, but also to your health. Moisture can be recognised, for instance, by mould on your walls. And let's face it, we're talking about fungi. These aren't exactly healthy, are they?

What are the harmful effects of excessive humidity?

The direct impact of mould and moisture in the home on your health

Moisture problems and mould in the home can cause various types of physical health complaints, some typical complaints include:

Respiratory discomfort.

A dry throat.

Headache

Irritated eyes.

Frequent coughing.

Fatigue.

Rheumatic complaints, including pain in the muscles and joints.

These are all kinds of direct effects of moisture in the home on your health. People with asthma in particular are more likely to suffer from excessive humidity, and people suffering from rheumatism will also find that their symptoms get worse.

Indirect effects on your health: house dust mites and pests

There are also indirect effects due to moisture in the home.

Humid rooms, for instance, are an ideal environment for the growth of house dust mites. People who are allergic to these microscopic insects will subsequently show allergic reactions. These include sneezing, coughing, breathing problems, tightness of the chest, eczema or chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. As a result, they are much more prone to colds, they become irritable faster and symptoms of fatigue also return.

In addition, humidity and mould can also attract pests, including silverfish or woodlice. These insects are not immediately bad for your health, but it is best to avoid them in your home.

So it is clear that excessive humidity can have negative effects on your immune system. This is because it costs your body a lot of energy to fight the symptoms mentioned above, weakening your body in general.

Safety first! Get the moisture problem combated as soon as possible.

We are no longer going to deny that excessive humidity is unhealthy. To avoid these negative consequences, it is important that you take damp spots seriously and take immediate action. Depending on what is causing the moisture problem is, there is always a solution tailor-made.

However, as it is not always easy to find out what is causing the moisture and mould, it is always recommended to get a moisture expert in. This person can determine with certainty what problem you are facing, and will also suggest the most appropriate method in doing so. This guarantees that the moisture problem will be solved once and for all.

Suffering from moisture in your home?

Are you suffering from excessive humidity somewhere in Flanders? Contact Aquaconsult now and our experts will be happy to help you.

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