Moisture problem areas

Large amounts of moisture can enter a home when the heating and cooling ducts under concrete floors leak.

Star Tribune

Last update: December 18, 2007 - 4:34 PM

Exhaust fans Wood components, including structural framework, roof decking and wall sheathing, can rot when moist air is vented into the attic or into the house instead of to the outside.	Transite heating ducts Large amounts of moisture can enter a home when the heating and cooling ducts under concrete floors leak. These ducts, called transite heating ducts, often are installed incorrectly, using some metal parts instead of all plastic.
Doors and windows Improperly installed and poorly constructed windows and doors allow moisture leaks that can cause rot in siding, walls and window trim.	Cantilevered areas Because of the complexity of framing a cantilever, wall surfaces interrupted by cantilevered "bump-outs," as they often are called, are difficult to seal and insulate.
Foundations A concrete foundation can be a source of excess moisture, as it wicks water from outside to joists and studs or leaks into the basement. Gutters, exterior drain tiles, sealants and insulation can help prevent problems.	Attics Warm, moist air from the living space that leaks into attics can cause ice dams and attic frost that wets building components. Attics must be properly vented; also, air bypasses (penetrations into the attic from the living space such as around chimneys, plumbing stacks and electrical wires) must be sealed, and the attic must be properly insulated.

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