A Moisture Source Is Elevating Your Indoor Air We Find It
Indoor humidity in a Las Vegas home should stay in the 30 to 50 percent relative humidity range for most of the year. The outdoor air is dry enough that natural ventilation keeps most well-sealed homes in that range without active humidity control. When indoor humidity is consistently higher than 60 percent, a moisture source is contributing to the indoor environment beyond what normal ventilation can remove.
Evaporative coolers are the most common culprit in older Las Vegas homes. Swamp coolers work by adding moisture to the air to create an evaporative cooling effect, and they can significantly elevate indoor humidity in homes that are not designed with adequate exhaust ventilation to match the introduced moisture. I regularly find high humidity and mold conditions in homes in the east side, North Las Vegas, and Paradise that have been running evaporative coolers without adequate attic or exterior exhaust ventilation.
Why This Creates Mold Risk
Mold establishes and grows at relative humidity above 60 percent sustained over time. A home that runs at 65 percent humidity through the summer cooling season provides conditions for Cladosporium and Aspergillus to establish on any surface with organic material drywall paper, window frames, HVAC duct lining, the underside of bathroom exhaust fan housings. The elevated humidity does not have to come from a single visible leak. It accumulates slowly from the HVAC system operating as designed in an insufficiently ventilated space.
What We Do
We identify the moisture source contributing to elevated humidity, assess whether mold has established as a result, and provide a scope addressing both the source correction and any remediation required. If you have noticed persistent high humidity, contact us before it becomes a larger problem. Read more about our mold inspection process. Call (702) 442-1126.