Southern Summers can be fickle, some years it can get to 100 degrees and higher other years temperatures barely hit 95. There is one constant here in the South, humidity. Humidity can make relatively cooler temperatures feel hotter and make it hard to breathe or do much of anything.
Humidity is directly linked to condensation. Left unchecked, humidity can cause damaging condensation problems which lead to leaks and other moisture damage.
At night, roof temperatures can rapidly decrease below the ambient air temperature, this sudden drop in roof temperature increases water vapor in the air. Water vapor causes wooden structures to swell, as water is readily absorbed. The cycle continues as the next day arrives and the higher temperatures evaporate the absorbed moisture, causing the affected structure to shrink, causing more problems.
Native Southerners (and long time transplants) are very familiar with humidity, it’s what causes that “hot and sticky” feeling. Humidity is basically water vapor in the air. Controlling humidity levels is critical to the health of your home and your happiness. Fortunately, these days there is a wide variety of devices to measure and control humidity.
If you know or suspect you may have a problem with humidity, roofing contractors such as Atlanta Roofing Specialists have the equipment necessary to measure the suspected area and recommend installing something like a humidistat (like a thermostat but for humidity) and dehumidifier to solve the problem. The best way to control humidity levels is to monitor them using the humidistat , a dehumidifier, and most importantly, proper ventilation in every room, especially areas like kitchen and bathrooms that generate their own humidity.
Improper ventilation can mimic roof leaks as humidity builds up in the form of moisture that can leak from the ceilings and walls. Many homeowners have spend lots of time and money trying to track down a leak only to find out ventilation is the problem and the leak is from the humidity!
As humidity is a widespread problem, especially here in Metro Atlanta, the roofing industry has developed moisture resistant and energy saving solutions to combat the problem. Moisture penetrates your roof in two ways. one is through the membrane or edge detailing failures, the other is exposure to different weather conditions.
Atlanta Roofing Specialists installs waterproof membranes to prevent water penetration and checks for proper ventilation, while air-conditioning units generally regulate the internal humidity levels. Some homeowners can even install dehumidifiers and moisture resistant membranes for that extra layer of protection.
While not isolated to the roofing structure, humidity is bad for your family as it can have negative effects on your health. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) suggests humidity levels should be in the range of 35% – 50%.
If you suspect you may have problems with humidity or leaks caused by humidity call Atlanta Roofing Specialists today at 770-419-2222 for your free estimate!