Why do modern-day homes trap more humidity inside?
Because, in achieving today’s “tight” homes, builders and remodelers have made increasing use of moisture-trapping materials such as high R-value insulation, glass, less-permeable varnishes and paints, tiles and plastic wall coverings. These materials, plus the application of vapor-seal wall insulation, combine to keep moisture inside where it can condense and cause fogging on cooler window surfaces as well as dampness on other interior surfaces. And houses with no basement have additional moisture problems. Also, condensation can happen when you get new windows. Why? Because the installation of the new windows actually cuts down drastically on air infiltration. Before your new windows were installed, cold dry air could easily mix with the warm moist air inside your house. This effectively lowers the humidity inside your home. Once new windows are installed, indoor humidity levels tend to rise, as does the indoor dew point! This means that condensation can start to form on new glass su
