Summer Humidity Problems Nobody Talks About

Every summer, homeowners start noticing strange things around the house: foggy windows, musty basement smells, peeling paint, damp air vents, or condensation showing up where it shouldn’t. It’s not your imagination. Your house is sweating.

Connecticut summers create the perfect conditions for humidity problems, especially in basements. When warm, moisture-filled air comes into contact with cooler surfaces, condensation forms on windows, pipes, vents, walls, and floors. Left unchecked, that excess moisture can lead to mold, water damage, poor air quality, and expensive repairs over time.

Basements are often the biggest trouble spot because they naturally stay cooler than the upper floors of a home. During humid weather, outdoor air sneaks inside through doors, windows, foundation gaps, and poorly sealed areas. Once that humid air hits cool basement surfaces, moisture forms quickly.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that basements simply “feel damp because they’re basements.” In reality, excessive moisture should not be ignored. Over time, high humidity levels can contribute to mold growth, warped materials, peeling paint, mildew, and damage to stored belongings.

Another common mistake homeowners make is opening basement windows during extremely humid weather in an attempt to “air things out.” Ironically, this often makes the problem worse by allowing even more moisture-heavy air inside.

In many homes, a properly sized dehumidifier can make a dramatic difference. Ideally, homeowners want indoor humidity levels to stay somewhere around 40–50 percent during the summer months. Anything consistently higher can start causing issues throughout the home.

Air conditioning also plays a major role in humidity control. Many people think of air conditioners as simply cooling systems, but they also remove moisture from the air. If a home feels cool but still sticky or damp, it may indicate that the system is oversized, not running properly, or struggling to remove humidity effectively.

Sometimes homeowners unknowingly create humidity issues themselves through simple daily habits. Long hot showers without proper ventilation, drying laundry indoors, poor bathroom fan use, and cooking without exhaust ventilation can all add moisture into the air.

Bathroom exhaust fans are another overlooked issue. Many older homes either have undersized fans or fans that simply vent into attics instead of fully outside the home, which can create an entirely different set of moisture problems over time.

Condensation around air conditioning vents is another frequent summer complaint. In many cases, this happens when humid air meets very cold ductwork or vents. While some minor condensation can be normal during extremely humid weather, excessive dripping or staining may indicate insulation issues around ductwork or poor airflow.

Homeowners should also pay attention to signs of exterior moisture intrusion during summer storms. Clogged gutters, poor grading, and improperly directed downspouts can allow water to collect around foundations, increasing humidity problems inside the home.

The good news is that many humidity-related problems are manageable once identified early. Proper ventilation, dehumidification, drainage improvements, and regular HVAC maintenance can go a long way toward keeping homes more comfortable and preventing bigger issues down the road.

Because while nobody wants their house to feel like a Florida greenhouse in July, your basement also shouldn’t smell like a forgotten beach towel by mid-August.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

10 Last-Minute Ways to Protect Your Home During Extreme Cold

We’ve spent the last couple of weeks talking about frozen pipes and ice dams, and unfortunately, this weekend is shaping up to be the coldest stretch of the year. When temperatures drop this low, small oversights can turn into expensive problems fast.

The good news? You don’t need to panic or run out and spend a fortune to help your home ride out extreme cold. A few simple, last-minute steps can make a real difference now and help prevent bigger repair bills down the road.

Here are 10 practical things you can do before (and during) a deep freeze.

1. Let faucets drip just a little

A slow, steady drip keeps water moving through pipes, making them far less likely to freeze. Focus on faucets connected to exterior walls, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas.

2. Open cabinet doors under sinks

This allows warm air from your home to circulate around plumbing. It’s simple, free, and surprisingly effective, especially overnight when temperatures hit their lowest point.

3. Turn the thermostat up a few degrees

This isn’t the weekend to save on heating costs. A slightly warmer house helps protect pipes in walls, basements, and crawlspaces. Consistent heat is better than dramatic temperature swings.

4. Check that vents and returns aren’t blocked

Furniture, rugs, or curtains blocking vents can reduce heat circulation, creating cold pockets near exterior walls. Make sure warm air can move freely throughout your home.

5. Seal obvious drafts (temporarily is fine)

If you feel cold air coming in around doors or windows, stop it now. Towels, draft snakes, or temporary weatherstripping can help seal gaps quickly and cheaply until permanent fixes can be made later.

6. Make sure attic hatches are closed and sealed

An open or poorly sealed attic hatch allows warm air to escape, cooling your home and contributing to ice dam formation. Even a quick check can help keep heat where it belongs.

7. Clear snow away from foundations and vents

Snow piled against your house can refreeze and cause ice buildup near foundations. Also check dryer vents, furnace exhausts, and intake pipes to make sure they’re clear and functioning properly.

8. Avoid shutting off heat in unused rooms

Closing doors and turning off heat may seem logical, but it can actually increase the risk of frozen pipes in those areas. Keep temperatures consistent throughout the house.

9. Know where your main water shutoff is

This doesn’t cost a dime but it’s critical. If a pipe does burst, shutting off the water quickly can dramatically reduce damage. If you’re not sure where it is, take five minutes to find it now.

10. Don’t ignore warning signs

Unusual drafts, dripping sounds, frost on pipes, or doors suddenly sticking can all be early indicators of cold-weather stress on your home. Addressing small issues now can prevent major repairs later.

A quick reminder

Extreme cold tests even well-maintained homes. These steps aren’t about perfection, they’re about reducing risk and giving your house the best chance to get through a tough weekend unscathed.

If you’ve already dealt with ice dams, frozen pipes, or winter damage in the past, it may be worth having a professional take a look once temperatures rise. Preventative maintenance is almost always cheaper than emergency repairs.

Stay warm, stay safe, and let’s all get through this cold snap without any surprise phone calls to our insurance companies.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros., Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. For remodeling needs, contact O’Donnell Bros., Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Submit questions to Bob at info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. Advice is for guidance only.

Ice Dam Prevention This Winter

If this winter feels unpredictable, you’re not wrong. We’ve been experiencing a familiar but frustrating pattern: cold temperatures and snow followed by milder daytime weather, then freezing again overnight. That constant freeze-thaw cycle is the perfect recipe for ice dams, even in years when snowfall totals are relatively modest.

Ice dams form when snow accumulates on a roof and begins to melt during warmer daytime temperatures. Heat escaping from the home, often through an under-insulated attic, warms sections of the roof just enough to melt the snow. The water then runs down toward the eaves and gutters, where roof temperatures are colder. As nighttime temperatures drop, that water refreezes. When this melting and refreezing happens repeatedly, a thick ridge of ice builds up along the roof edge, creating an ice dam.

These icy barriers don’t just sit harmlessly at the edge of your roof. They block proper drainage, forcing melting snow to back up under shingles. That water can seep into the attic, soak insulation, stain ceilings, damage walls, and create conditions that encourage mold growth. The weight of the ice itself can also pull gutters away from the house or loosen shingles, opening the door to even more water damage.

Homeowners should watch for early warning signs. Large icicles hanging from gutters, uneven snow melt across the roof, or water stains appearing on interior walls during winter are all indicators that heat is escaping and ice dams may be forming.

When ice dams appear, many homeowners are tempted to take matters into their own hands, but this is where things often go wrong. One of the most common mistakes is hacking away at ice with a shovel, axe, or ice chopper. While it may feel productive in the moment, this can easily damage shingles, puncture the roof, or dent gutters, leading to repairs that cost far more than the ice dam ever would have. Another risky approach is climbing onto an icy roof without proper safety equipment. Slips and falls are a serious hazard during winter and can result in severe injury.

Chemical deicers can also cause problems if used improperly. Products not designed specifically for roofs may damage shingles, kill nearby landscaping, or corrode metal gutters. Even roof-safe deicing products should be used cautiously and viewed as a temporary measure, not a long-term solution.

The real fix for ice dams isn’t on the roof at all. It starts in the attic. Proper insulation and ventilation help keep roof temperatures consistent, preventing snow from melting unevenly in the first place. Unfortunately, more than 75% of New England homes are under-insulated, often because they were built before modern energy standards were in place. As a result, heat escapes easily, setting the stage for ice dam formation.

Improving insulation helps keep warm air inside the living space where it belongs, while proper ventilation allows cold air to circulate in the attic and keeps the roof surface cold. Together, these upgrades not only reduce the risk of ice dams but also improve comfort year-round and lower energy bills. They can also help reduce moisture buildup in the attic, decreasing the likelihood of mold and mildew.

With today’s increasingly unpredictable winter weather, ice dams are no longer just a problem after major snowstorms. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles mean they can form quickly and unexpectedly. Addressing insulation and ventilation now, before damage occurs, is one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.