Compared to the larger rooms in a house, closets have a high ratio of wall space to air space. Because heat has more surface area to cover, temperatures inside closets are likely to be cooler than temperatures in the rest of the house. This is especially true for poorly insulated closets or closets situated along an exterior wall. Traces of moisture in this cooler space will tend to rise and condense near the ceiling, which can lead to water damage and the development of mold and mildew. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Open the closet door, and keep it open at all times. This simple step will increase ventilation, lower humidity levels and maintain the closet at a temperature closer to that of the rest of the house.
2. Place a commercial desiccant containing silica gel or clay in the closet, ideally on a high shelf near areas where condensation and mold often form. Desiccants, which are designed to pull moisture from the air, usually come in packets or tubs and are often labeled as "moisture absorbers." They may be found in the cleaning supply aisle of drugstores and discount stores.
3. Plug a low-wattage night light into an electrical outlet in the closet, and leave it on at all times. The light will raise the temperature in the closet just enough to discourage moisture from rising and condensing.
4. Hang a humidity meter in your closet, and monitor it to make sure the relative humidity level in the closet stays below 50 percent. If the humidity level starts to climb, place a fan in the closet to circulate the air, and keep the closet door open.
Tags: closet door, humidity level, moisture from, rest house
