European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Getting rid of mildew by John Warde new York times chronic mildew on Walls and ceilings pc clog Peinl hat exposes Bare material underneath nol just earlier coals of finish sweating window panes and crumbling plaster these problems  Are signs of indoor condensation. Most Otlyn this condensation water in household air changing i of vapor to liquid occurs in Winter. 0u in can crop up anytime. Damage can insult in the problem in prolonged remedies exist some simple and same not but the subject is Complex and Many building engineers disagree on certain strategies. To Tiep in understanding Ine problem his is How condensation develops As air becomes warmer 1 5 ability to contain moisture mine form of vapor increases. The amount of moisture actually contained by a mass of air compared with the amount in is capable o containing Al thai , is called the relative humidity. At 100 percent relative humidity an air mass can hold no More water vapor when air cools its ability to contain water decreases. Eventually. Coaling air reaches a temperature of which in is overloaded with moisture and so must give some up. The  at which this occurs is called the Dew Point the Dew Point of an air mass varies according to the air s relative humidity. The More moisture tha air contains the higher the Dew Point temperature. When tha Dew Point is reached causing is relative humidity of the air mass to become 100 percent water vapor in the air condenses to liquid. Because in is then heavier than air it is tall behind As dampness. The process ceases when rising temperatures or reduced moisture Content cause tha relative humidity of the air mass id fall below 100 percent. In Winter healed air inside a Home can and usually docs contain much greater amounts of moisture than the cooler air outside. This indoor moisture migrates toward its drier counterpart. In the Days before Homes were Welt scaled and insulated moist indoor air passed quickly outdoors through cracks in window frames and door lambs and other openings. Much heal was carried and lost with in. Bui this process prevented condensation because the temperature of the indoor air stayed above the Dew Point until it encountered the outside air. To most Homes today because of Energy efficient construction far less heat escapes with moist air and so its Dew Point often occurs inside the Structure this can be either within Wall or ceiling insulation or on Interior surfaces the cure i3 basically twofold indoor moisture Levels should be reduced and what moisture remains should be prevented from entering Walla and ceilings. Moisture Levels can to reduced by installing to reduce tit aloof. Ven ulale vapor Lhatt Tertrou Graoui the Home. Seat moisture out of dirt floor basements by covering floors Ullh plastic. Use Bircks Anchor. Lar right. Insulation moisture forms matter Irakis Ini Lalion when leu Heet Tuomi ten a vapor be tier like Pla talc Sheet to prevent moisture from entering Walls Ndoc Engi. Apply  thai Uriece. Nov a trim adequate fans and ventilators in excessively Damp areas like bathrooms laundry rooms and kitchens to expel a note a from Iho bund Iarj supplement these with portable electric dehumidifiers. Do not vant clothes dryers indoors to capitalize on the Ricc heat they provide. The vented air is moist from the Wal clothing inside the dryer and will condense indoors if nol conducted ouf of the building. A Range Hood above the stove will capture cooking Vapours on the Slove steaming Pels should be covered with lids until the water inside cools. House Plant which give off moisture should be Kepi id a minimum in Small rooms. It you have a basement or crawl space with a dirt floor prevent the Moi lure in it trim rising into Walls and living spaces by laying she film Hack polyethylene sheeting Over the floor and several inches up tha Wall. The sheeting commonly called vapor Barrier is available at Home centers and building a uppity floras. Overtop aft seams when spreading the vapor Barrier and Anchor ii along the edges with bricks or boards. Foundation Watts should have lovers or windows that open. Leave them open year round Tor ventilation regardless of the Energy loss. Insul Afu the basement ceiling in lha floor above becomes cold ii there Are no vents some must be constructed. Vapor barriers Are also crucial in hailing the migration of existing moisture which might condense inside Walls rot the construction and Dampen the insulation and diminish its . In new construction and extensive renovation attaching polyethylene sheeting across exterior Walls and ceilings just under the Wallboard is quite effective. However if Watts Are already finished and no renovation is planned a workable vapor Barrier can be achieved after surfaces Are dry and condensation is eliminated do this by applying Vinyl wallpaper or two coals of Oil base alkyd paint to perimeter Walls and ceilings that separate living spaces from an unheated Tittle or the roof. Vapor Barrier paint specially formulated for the purpose is also available from paint stores and Homo centers. H paint is already peeling Walls must be dried and cleaned and peeling paint removed. Also Seal openings around pipes vents television antennas electrical wires doors and windows. Use caulking compound Loam sealant available in Spray cans of . Gasket kits Are available at hardware stores for sealing behind electric switch Plains and Wall receptacles problem areas thai Are often overlooked by builders. If you want to Monitor household moisture Levels use a hygrometer. Mode s costing about 120 Are available in Home Supply catalogues. Relative humidity readings should overage below 30 percent during Winter months. However even in they arc higher problems Are unlikely to develop unless outdoor temperatures average below freezing use nails Vilo 3 Tolmei longer irian Itie thickness of the Weed they Mug hold always Nail Light work to Navy.  Tor of Trona joints drive Nafla from opposite directions and Bend the Point into the Wood. Toe naj joins May be butted or Regex us is above. Opposing ram should be offset to pass each other. Uta a Damp end Block of Wood to needy i Frame Whent enniking first null will hold while the Tocong it driven. Dove i netting to Don by driving Nils Najee for Bener grip. Lenl Nain have Hook effect. Atom ruling kilo a tune Ohton not. Tub a twp it Wood. It Emil nets Neer intends. Spot ends can a Monk faed avoid nailing into Hir Dud. By cutting Wood vow tooth. If lulls Mutt be used Drift null it in place before a Wing p8 holes slightly smaller of me excess. Than the rail Wank. Prevent bounding when jutting unsupported Wood by holding heavy Block sea Jan the free aide of me work. Blind railing chose up a Wood Sistr end Erve t naj driving through Tongue i into the Peceu. Be the  it eight Sliver Biek in position. Noje Utown. Binomial my Fucci Bardi by and push Troj net my Tedus through e in cd Board fewer Othet Finger can be kept Deer of the Heiner. Page 16 the stars and stripes sunday March 27,1988