Moisture Control and Dehumidification

One of the most devastating threats your home faces isn’t an insect, pest or rodent. In fact, it’s something you can’t even see: moisture. Over time, moisture can cause problems that could affect the very foundation of your home. The only way to stop it is to prevent moisture damage altogether.

An invisible enemy

The effect of moisture damage can be difficult to imagine. To truly understand how your home could be affected, it helps to know that each day, the exposed ground under your home releases as much as 19 gallons of water vapor into your crawl spaces and foundation. This moisture is absorbed by wood, brick, concrete and, eventually, your home furnishings. Even the most well-built homes can fall victim to the destructive power of moisture. To make matters worse, the damage can be wide-ranging, including:

• Warped baseboards.
• Rotted joists and sills.
• Expansion and buckling of floors.
• Blistering of exterior paint.
• Corroded electrical conduits.
• Rotted structural members.
• Decayed wall framing.
• Softened floor adhesives.
• Rusted pipes.
  

Target the source

The damage caused by moisture can be costly and involved. Avoiding the problem in the first place, however, is simple—with a little help from us, that is. To protect your home from damage, Terminix offers two unique solutions. The first is our three-step moisture control program. The second involves our powerful Santa Fe Advance dehumidification system. Depending on your needs, we’ll work with you to determine which solution is best suited to your problem. Whatever we decide, you can feel safe knowing we’ll offer tailored solutions to meet your moisture control needs.

Automatic Foundation Vents

Automatically ventilates crawl spaces and controls conditions that lead to mold, mildew, fungi, damp rot and unhealthy air.

• Opens and closes automatically as the temperature changes; at 70°F the vent is fully opened to provide fresh air; at 40°F the vent fully closes to conserve energy and protect pipes.
• Keeps humid, moist air from entering your crawl space where it can create condensation by coming into contact with cold surfaces during the cooling season.
• Decreases susceptibility to termites by reducing wood moisture content.
• Designed for and available exclusively through Pest Management operators.

Vapo-Barrier
Helps stop elevated moisture levels.

• Consists of polythylene sheeting that provides a ground barrier to water vapor.
• Long lasting.
• Resistant to rot, decay, hardening, cracking or peeling.
• Helps minimize condensation on windows.
• Helps reduce musty odors.
• Aids in controlling termites and other wood-destroying insects.
  

Borate Application
Seals and reduces moisture levels in wood.

• Application is monitored using a blue dye solution.
• Penetrates into the wood, treating more than just the surface.
• Odorless.
• Vaporless.
• Long lasting.
• Effective in treating active powder post beetles.

Dehumidification

For some homes, the best way to control moisture is to eliminate it at the source—crawl spaces. Because crawl spaces are a major source of air infiltration, it’s easy for
moisture and odors to permeate your living area and saturate the foundation of your home. Our powerful dehumidifier—designed specifically for crawl spaces—eliminates that
risk altogether. Only certain homes can accommodate the Santa Fe; ask your local Terminix Professional for a free evaluation today.