Handyman Guide > Condensation

Virtually all air contains a certain amount of water vapor. This vapor is a gas and can pass through many solids. The amount of water vapor that the air contains is dependent upon the temperature of the air. Warm air contains a great deal while cold air absorbs very little. When' warm air comes in contact with a cold surface, the temperature of the air is immediately reduced and, consequently, it drops some of this water vapor in the form of moisture.


In old houses, with many openings, moisture can easily pass out with the air. In well-constructed houses, there are few openings and the moisture cannot escape; accordingly, it remains as sweat on the walls 'and on the storm windows. Warm moist air, passing around the inside window, condenses on the cold surface of the storm window. Excessive condensation of moisture can cause considerable damage to woodwork and decorations.



Reducing. It is almost impossible to eliminate all the moisture from the air, and unhealthy to reduce the moisture content of the air too much, Reduce condensation by keeping the temperature of all surfaces, such as walls and windows, as close to that of the room as possible, and avoid saturating the air in the house with moisture.

The temperature of the inside walls can be made to coincide more closely with that of the room by insulating between the inner and outer wall. Another method is to have a warm air circulating between the inner and outer wall, but this would cause loss of heat through the exterior wall. Good circulation throughout the house will reduce condensation, and this can be improved by installing flues over gas stoves and leaving the chimney throat open.


To prevent excessive moisture in the air, avoid hanging wet wash in the house and remove steam from kitchen or bathroom by forced draft.

Humidity. While many homeowners suffer with the problem of excessive moisture in the house during the winter, many others have just the opposite trouble - the air is too dry. Dry air is harmful in several respects. First of all, as far as the health of the family is concerned, medical authorities say that dry air in the home is the cause of many head colds. Dry air will also tend to cause wood joints in the furniture to loosen. If the air is dry, it will require more heat to make persons comfortable than if the air contained the right amount of water.

Warm air furnaces are usually provided with a water pan and if this is kept full of water the air coming up through the registers will contain some water vapor. Radiators may be equipped with special water pans which will help somewhat to increase the moisture content of the air. For other cases there are many different brands of humidifying devices made for the home. These are regulated so that they will keep the moisture content of the air just right for comfort and health.


Continue to Plumbing






Tools and Materials

Hammers - Handsaws - Screwdrivers - Chisels - Brace and Bit - Hand Drill - Brad Awl - Planes - Files - Measuring Tools - Rules - Squares - Marking Gauge - Levels - Pincers - Nail Set - Drawknife - Cabinet Scraper - Small Tool Kit - Putty Knife - Pliers - Wrenches - Paint Scraper - Sharpening Tools - Nails - Wood Screws - Corrugated Fasteners - Mending Plates - Bolts - Abrasives - Woodworking Glue - Splices and Joints.

The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

Home Construction
Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter about how to start a handyman business. Get tips for finding clients, managing work and more.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Business Cards

Handyman Clients: How to Find the Best Ones

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business



Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

Handyman Business Book Reviews

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House