When many people think of Houston, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the relentless heat. However, when it comes to building maintenance in Houston, the real challenge is navigating the year-round humidity. Not only can the humidity leave you dripping in sweat, but it can also lead to costly building damage and long-term structural decay if not treated properly. M.I.R. Enterprises specializes in all aspects of Houston building maintenance, so when it comes to battling the humidity, our team is fully equipped.
By working with a Houston-based team that specializes in building maintenance, you can be sure that your building is set up for success through tried-and-true strategies. Not only can high-quality building maintenance protect your investment, but it can also improve the building’s air quality and save you money on energy bills during the steamy summer months.
Understanding the Threat: How Houston’s Humidity Can Seriously Harm Your Building
Besides just being muggy, sweaty, and generally uncomfortable, Houston’s humidity can work as a serious threat against your property’s upkeep. Humidity is caused by the presence of water vapor in the air and is typically caused by a variety of natural factors, including:
- Evaporation: The water cycle is driven by the sun’s warmth, so in an environment like Houston, where it is sunny most of the year, the water evaporates quickly. This leaves a large amount of water particles in the air at all times.
- Temperature: Warm air is able to hold more water vapor for a longer time than cold air. Because of this, the humidity is higher in very warm locations like Houston.
- Geographic location: The geographical location also plays a huge role in humidity. Houston has a large amount of surface water surrounding it and is in proximity to the Texas Gulf Coast, so it is exposed to higher levels of water evaporation and increased humidity because of it.
While these are the primary reasons for humidity in the Houston area, humidity can build up within a building due to small, unintentional mistakes. For example, a small leak that may go unnoticed can introduce significant amounts of unwanted water and moisture into the building, which leads to indoor humidity. Along with leaks, poor ventilation also contributes to humidity buildup by trapping the moist air and keeping it from dissipating. Lastly, improper insulation can keep the air inside the building too warm, allowing more moisture to stay in the air.
The Most Common Humidity Damage For Houston Buildings
While for many Houstonians, humidity might be something you have resorted to ignoring and classifying as a minor inconvenience, however, it can actually be a major threat to your building, potentially causing costly, serious damage over time. When it comes to Houston building maintenance, these core threats caused by humidity cannot be ignored.
The biggest threat that humidity can bring is mold or mildew growth. Mold and mildew love to live in high-moisture environments, like a building that has high humidity levels. If your building in Houston is excessively warm or humid, you are in turn creating a serious mold breeding ground that can lead to a slew of health risks, including respiratory illness, asthma attacks, and long-term allergies.
Along with mold and mildew, building maintenance in Houston is crucial to combat the structural damage potentially caused by humidity. Excess moisture in the air can penetrate the wood, oftentimes leading to significant warping and cracking. This can cause severe structural damage and weaknesses that could put your building in danger. In extreme cases, it can even cause foundational cracking due to the clay soil expanding and contracting as it becomes moist.
Lastly, Houston’s brutal humidity can seriously strain your HVAC system, contributing to skyrocketing energy costs and worn-down, ineffective cooling results. Humid air in your Houston building is harder to cool because removing the hot water vapor requires significantly more energy on your HVAC’s end.
Strengthening Your Building Maintenance Regime to Fight Houston’s Humidity
By understanding the vast ways that humidity can negatively impact your Houston building, you can now learn how MIR Enterprises can help strategize your maintenance routine. When it comes to building maintenance for combating humidity, a proactive approach is key. When you are able to hone in on these essential elements of your Houston building maintenance strategy, you can keep your building safe and in great condition year-round.
First Line of Defense: Your Building’s HVAC
Oftentimes, your HVAC unit can be one of the most vital elements in preventing humidity damage in your building. In Houston, regular HVAC inspections and maintenance are not just a suggestion but are actually crucial. Our team skillfully investigates HVAC units for even the smallest disruptions, which may point to a bigger problem. These tune-ups usually include:
- Checking refrigerant levels
- Cleaning coils
- Calibrating thermostats
Your HVAC might need to be accompanied by a standalone dehumidifier in extreme cases. At MIR Enterprises, our team can help find the perfect solution for your unique building maintenance needs in Houston, regardless of how significant your humidity issue is.
Protecting Your Building “Envelope” With Professional Maintenance
No matter how much building maintenance you do on your HVAC system, your Houston building maintenance is only as strong as its seal. The most important aspect of humidity defense is creating a strong, sturdy, and reliable “envelope” effect surrounding your building by caring for the seals, walls, windows, and even the roof.
Our team does this by sealing and weatherproofing your building. Our technicians expertly find and seal sneaky air leaks around your windows or doors, preventing sweltering humidity from entering your building.
A well-maintained roof is also essential for your Houston building maintenance checklist. What makes this a vital aspect is the gutters. By creating a strong directional flow to keep water off the roof and away from the building, you can significantly reduce the humidity levels inside due to water damage or trapped moisture. Our team can inspect and improve your gutter system, allowing it to do its job during Houston’s storms.
Lastly, proper drainage is also an important aspect of building maintenance – especially in Houston, where flooding is all too common. MIR Enterprises has been working in Houston for over three decades. Throughout that time, our team has mastered the art of creating reliable drainage channels for your Houston parking lot or building site, helping you keep the humidity damage at bay, regardless of the season.
A Common Culprit for Houston Humidity Damage: Your Building’s Plumbing System
Even once your HVAC is working properly and your building’s seal is intact, a silent threat could still be contributing to humidity damage within your building: your plumbing system. Even small, extremely common plumbing issues like leaks or faucet drips can contribute to increased, standing moisture in your building, which can lead to humidity buildup and detrimental damage. Our team offers thorough plumbing maintenance to make sure leaks, clogged drains, or backflow can’t negatively impact your building.
The Professional Edge: Why Call Your Houston Building Maintenance Team
At MIR Enterprises, we are experts in all things building maintenance. We understand the complex challenges that Houston buildings often face and can help you every step of the way. Our proactive building maintenance strategies can help you fight Houston’s humidity and keep your facility in the best condition possible, keeping you, your employees, and your visitors both safe and comfortable year-round. Contact us today to schedule your free Houston building maintenance audit!
