Bathroom Ventilation | Totally Plumbing

How to Lower Humidity in a Home

Managing indoor humidity levels is important. High moisture levels in a home can lead to potentially serious health issues, including asthma, allergies, and various other respiratory illnesses that are triggered by mold, dust mites, peeling lead paint, and pests. If you’ve noticed water leaks or stains, rotting woods, musty odors, rusting or corrosion, and excessive condensation, understanding how to lower humidity in a house is crucial.

Contributing factors to high humidity include high outdoor humidity levels, interior plumbing leaks, inadequate insulation, and poor ventilation. There are several ways to reduce humidity levels in a house, including using a dehumidifier, adjusting air conditioner settings, decreasing drafts with weatherstripping, using ceiling fans, moving houseplants outside, avoiding line drying clothes inside, opening windows, and keeping interior doors open to improve air flow. If these simple solutions do not reduce the humidity level in the home, professionals can implement solutions including sump pump installation, vapor barrier installation, and sealing basement foundation leaks and cracks. Learn about ways to reduce high humidity levels.

plumbingmbd2023-08-29T02:50:55+00:00August 28th, 2023|

Who to Call for a Mold Inspection

If a mold problem is suspected in a home, the first service provider to contact is a mold inspection and remediation company. These service providers have the experience and equipment to inspect a home for mold. A mold inspection can be particularly useful if there has been a water or flooding issue in a home, as mold could be forming in areas that are not visible. Mold inspections typically cost between $300-$500 with additional costs for testing, which is usually between $200-$350. A mold inspector may also perform a basic mold air test. These tests will determine if remediation services are required. The best way to control mold in a home is to reduce or eliminate moisture in the home. Identifying and fixing water leaks, ensuring adequate room ventilation, and using a HVAC system and dehumidifier are ways to reduce the likelihood of a mold infestation. It is important to identify and address mold issues quickly, as mold in a home can cause health issues, including congestion, wheezing, and red or puffy eyes as well as other symptoms. Workers who have direct and extended exposure to large amounts of mold are likely to see more severe health reactions such fever, shortness of breath, and possibly asthma. Learn how to identify mold issues and solutions for remediation.

plumbingmbd2023-01-24T00:45:51+00:00January 13th, 2023|

Check These 12 Problem Areas if Your Home Smells Funny

A home can have all sorts of lingering and unpleasant smells, such as a stench from the bathroom. And, while some household smells are merely objectionable, others can be an indication of a hazardous condition. Household odors that may be cause for concern include a natural gas smell which is similar to a rotten egg, a fishy smell that could be emanating from a wall outlet, a musty or dusty smell which could be the result of mold or mildew, and a sewage odor which could be a sign of a clogged drain pipe. Learn about potentially hazardous household odors and how to successfully remediate each.

plumbingmbd2023-01-09T01:30:23+00:00December 30th, 2022|

Who Installs Bathroom Exhaust Fans?

Who should install a bathroom exhaust fan is more complex than a homeowner might think. A licensed electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician can likely replace an existing exhaust fan or install a new one in a bathroom. However, who should install a bathroom exhaust fan depends on how the bathroom is set up and whether the job is a simple replacement or requires new ductwork or access to the roof.

Depending on the complexity, a bathroom fan installation may require an electrician, HVAC technician, and roofer, although a highly-skilled handyman or general contractor may be able to complete the project. Learn about the complexities of installing a bathroom exhaust ran and which licensed professionals may be required.

plumbingmbd2022-09-20T03:42:19+00:00September 13th, 2022|

How to Fix a Sewage Smell in the Bathroom

It is important to resolve sewer smells in your bathroom quickly. Inhaling high levels of sewer gases can cause health problems, including nausea, dizziness, and, in the case of hydrogen sulfide poisoning, even fatality. Airborne pathogens can also be present in your home exposing you to sewer-dwelling germs. And, extremely high levels of sewer gases can even trigger an explosion.

Common causes of sewer smells in a home include clogged sink and shower drains, leaking pipes and p-traps for sink and shower drains, empty p-traps for unused sink and shower drains, a broken wax ring for a toilet, and incorrectly installed vent pipes in a bathroom. Learn about causes of sewer smells in a bathroom and how to resolve them.

plumbingmbd2022-02-12T01:05:47+00:00January 14th, 2022|

How to Get Rid of Mold in a Basement

Mold and mildew are common household problems that can cause damage over time if left untreated. This fungus is easy to see, and to ensure that mold and mildew will not come back, you need to find out what caused the mold to grow and address the root cause so that it won’t return. Inspect areas near the mold for active plumbing leaks, condensation on pipes and fittings, basement foundation leaks, high humidity levels, and pre-existing mold infestations.

Mold and mildew infestations can negatively impact the health of those living in the home, especially those with respiratory problems. When mold and mildew are found, it’s important to remove them quickly to prevent harm to the structure and occupants. Common solutions that are used for killing mold include white vinegar, baking soda, bleach, concrobium, and steam. Learn how to remediate mold and prevent it from returning.

plumbingmbd2021-10-22T01:20:37+00:00October 20th, 2021|

Why Is My Toilet Tank Sweating?

Toilet tanks usually sweat as a result of too much humidity in the bathroom. Bathrooms are usually the dampest room in a house, and they typically don’t have a lot of ventilation, especially if the room doesn’t have a ventilation fan or if the fan isn’t running frequently. To reduce the likelihood of toilet tank sweat, take steps to lower the humidity in the bathroom, including regularly running air conditioning units or dehumidifiers, which will help reduce condensation on the toilet tank. Learn about how to reduce toilet tank sweat and possible side effects, such as mold, mildew, and water damage.

plumbingmbd2021-07-09T14:51:09+00:00July 8th, 2021|

Identifying Black Mold

Mold can cause adverse reactions in people who have allergies or weakened immune systems. Black mold can be extremely hazardous and tough to remove. Learn how to identify black mold so you can eliminate it.

plumbingmbd2021-05-04T01:44:02+00:00May 3rd, 2021|

Using Vinegar to Kill Mold

Vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can kill mold. For example, white vinegar can be used to clean, deodorize, and disinfect around the house, and can kill black mold which commonly results from water damage. Learn how you can use vinegar to kill mold on different surface types.

plumbingmbd2021-04-11T16:57:53+00:00April 9th, 2021|

What Does Mold Smell Like?

Mold creates a stale, damp scent and the smell is a first sign of mold or mildew. Homeowners should identify the source of the smell and cause of the mold quickly, and remediate the mold as soon as possible as waiting to address the issue can result in a more arduous removal process.

plumbingmbd2021-03-12T16:47:49+00:00March 11th, 2021|