Short, practical articles on indoor window condensation in cold-climate homes — dew point, humidity logs, moisture sources, kitchen steam, laundry drying, basements, HRV/ERV settings, warmer glass, bedrooms, renters, a fourteen-day plan, troubleshooting, and cold snaps. Written for houses, condos, and apartments.
Health Canada recommends not using tanning beds or sunlamps. Some emit up to 10 times more UVB than summer noon sun, the WHO classes them as carcinogenic, and first use before 35 raises melanoma risk 59%. Pre-tanning does not prevent sunburn.
Health Canada: Class 3B and 4 handheld lasers are prohibited in Canada. Even a quick look into any visible laser can cause dazzle or flash blindness. Never aim a pointer at people, mirrors, aircraft or vehicles, choose one that stays on only while pressed, and keep it from children.
Health Canada: if a compact fluorescent lamp breaks, clear the room, air it out for 15 minutes, pick up the pieces with stiff paper and sticky tape (no vacuum or broom), seal them in a glass jar, and take them to household hazardous waste, not the trash.
Health Canada: microwave leakage poses no known health risk if the oven is properly maintained. Keep the door seal clean without abrasive cleansers, never use an oven whose door won’t close or tamper with its interlocks, and have damaged doors, hinges or latches inspected.
Health Canada: before buying cosmetics online, check for a bilingual label with ingredients, warnings and directions; watch for counterfeits that may contain lead, mercury or bacteria; avoid used cosmetics; and keep adult-only products and nail polish remover away from children.
Health Canada: don’t buy plug-in electrical products online without a Canadian certification mark on the product itself, match charger output voltage to your device, buy replacement batteries from trusted sellers, and watch for unusually low prices and missing seller contact details.
Health Canada: safety rules apply equally to used products, and selling or giving away a banned, recalled or non-compliant item is illegal. Its banned list, checks for sellers and buyers, single-impact helmets and car seats, CSA/cUL/cETL marks, and why to skip used cosmetics.
Health Canada: swallowing more than one small, powerful magnet can tear or block the intestines; children under 10 are most at risk and symptoms may not appear for days, so get medical help immediately. Adults are at risk too, from fake piercings and novelty sets.
Health Canada: if a toy or part fits in a toilet paper roll it is too small for under-3s; buy toys with clear labels and tool-secured battery compartments, check recalls, air out smelly toys, test noise, and avoid toy boxes with heavy lids and airtight bins.
Health Canada: children’s jewellery (under 15) must meet lead and cadmium limits but adult jewellery doesn’t. No jewellery for children under 3, watch for cheap pieces that feel unusually heavy, avoid jequirity beans, and ask a doctor about a blood test after regular chewing.
Health Canada: a swallowed button battery can burn through a child’s esophagus in as little as 2 hours. Get emergency care immediately without waiting for symptoms. Choose screw-closed compartments, store away from food and medicine, and tape used batteries before disposal.
Health Canada: don’t use swollen or dented lithium-ion batteries, charge at room temperature where you can see it and away from beds and exit doors, use CSA/cUL/cETL-marked chargers, never modify e-bike batteries, store large batteries at about 50%, and never put batteries in the garbage.
Health Canada: undercooked ground beef can cause hamburger disease (E. coli). Cook patties to 71°C with a digital thermometer; a safe burger may be slightly pink and an unsafe one brown. Make patties thin, keep a labelled bag for meat, and boil marinade before reuse.
Health Canada: discard cooked food left out over two hours, cool leftovers in shallow uncovered containers, eat refrigerated leftovers within 2 to 3 days (chart: up to 3 to 4 for some), reheat to 74°C, boil gravies and soups, and never re-freeze microwave-thawed food.
Health Canada: bag raw meat separately, marinate and thaw in the fridge, keep coolers cold and food out of 4°C–60°C, never reuse the raw-meat plate, and check with a digital thermometer: burgers 71°C, chicken pieces 74°C, fish 70°C.
Health Canada: pouring gel or liquid fuel into a fire pot, portable fireplace or fondue pot that is still burning or hot can cause flame jetting. Snuff the flame, let it cool completely, never pour over a flame, and use a flame arrestor or non-refillable canisters.
Health Canada: trampolines need 2 m clearance around and 8 m overhead, a pre-use frame, spring and pad check, one jumper at a time and no children under six; nets do not prevent most injuries. Bouncy castles: anchor on soft ground, no extension cords, no wind or rain.
Health Canada: check hoses and fittings with soapy water after winter, light with the lid open without leaning over, burn off hose gas at shut-off, inspect metal-bristle brushes, propane sinks, and keep pots off butane canisters to prevent flash fires.
Health Canada: clear the lawn and check safety guards before using power tools; never mow wet grass; unplug a clogged mower and clear it with a stick; mow across slopes with a walk-behind; one rider only; wear hearing protection; use gloves only if the manual says so; keep torch fuel away from children.
Health Canada: injuries are the main cause of death for young children. Get down on the floor and look up, childproof before the next skill arrives, anchor dressers and TVs against tip-overs, put playsets over sand or pea gravel (grass is too hard), and put a knocked-out adult tooth back or in milk.
Health Canada’s holiday tips: water a fresh tree daily and remove it when needles fall; buy CSA, cUL or cETL lights, turn them off at bedtime and use GFCI outlets outside; avoid water beads and liquid-fuel oil lamps with kids under five; watch for button batteries and small, powerful magnets in gifts.
Health Canada: before renovating, check for asbestos (common before 1990), radon (3-month test), lead paint (homes before 1991) and mould. Buy low-VOC products and composite wood labelled TSCA Title VI, CANFER or California 93120 Phase 2. Seal and ventilate the work area, and never burn or drain-dispose chemicals.
Health Canada’s Halloween tips: bright, well-fitting costumes; face paint instead of masks, with a patch test; flame resistant doesn’t mean fire-proof; buy decorative contact lenses from an eye care professional; keep button batteries from kids; use battery candles; and throw away opened or homemade treats.
Health Canada: a triangle frame means the container is dangerous; an octagon means the contents are. Never mix household chemicals, and never mix bleach with ammonia, glass cleaners or vinegar. Dilute 5 mL of bleach per 250 mL of water, store products out of children’s reach, and call a poison centre after an exposure.
Health Canada: put smoke alarms in each bedroom, in the hallway outside bedrooms and on every level including the basement; test monthly and replace any alarm over ten years old. Look for certification marks, use P.A.S.S. with an extinguisher, keep lighters from kids, and snuff candles instead of using water.
Health Canada: homes built before 1960 probably contain lead-based paint, and those built 1960–1990 may have it on the exterior. Intact paint out of children’s reach can be left alone. If it must come off, use a chemical stripper paste, never sanders, heat guns or blowlamps, and protect children and pregnant women.
Health Canada: 22 cm of cord or a 44 cm loop can strangle a child, and children aged 1 to 3 are most at risk. The safest fix is window coverings without long accessible cords; until then, keep cords out of reach, use cleats and tension devices, and keep cribs away from windows.
Health Canada: bedbugs are very hard to get rid of, so hire a licensed pest control operator. Bedbugs die at 50°C; use a hot dryer for 30+ minutes; freezing needs 4 days at -19°C. How to vacuum, check for a PCP number, and why not to use ozone generators.
Health Canada: indoor benzene is about three times higher in homes with attached garages; smoking also adds to it. The guidance sets no number and says to reduce exposure as much as possible: seal the garage, add a garage exhaust fan, don’t idle vehicles or start gas equipment inside, don’t smoke indoors.
Government of Canada: a boil water advisory means a rolling boil for at least 1 minute; a do not consume advisory means boiling won’t help, but hand washing, dishes, laundry and bathing are OK; a do not use advisory means no tap water for any purpose. Why advisories are issued.
Health Canada says after a wildfire, don’t use tap water for drinking, ice, food, pets, teeth, hands or baby formula until officials say it’s safe. How fire changes water sources, municipal advisories and utilities, the 5-minute hot and cold flush, and well owners.
Government of Canada wildfire smoke guidance: mild vs serious symptoms, who is most at risk, what to stock before the season, N95 limits, DIY box-fan air cleaner safety rules, car recirculation, AQHI event levels, 9-8-8, and cleaning up after the smoke.
Health Canada’s ventilation guide: exhaust fans over about 200 to 400 cfm need makeup air, depressurization can backdraft chimneys, supply-only systems and moisture, when an ERV beats an HRV, HRV and ERV filters at least every second month, and smog days.
Health Canada’s heat guide: who is most at risk, heat illness symptoms, what to do for heat stroke while waiting for 911, drinking before you’re thirsty, blocking the sun and opening windows at night, and why fans don’t cool the body above 35 °C.
Health Canada’s wildfire smoke guidance: cut indoor sources, seal and close windows, use a high-quality furnace filter and recirculation, run HEPA air cleaners, keep 35 to 50% humidity and a CO alarm. Plus MERV 13, CO display levels, CO₂ and the 26 °C heat target.
Health Canada’s rule for sizing a portable air cleaner: measure the room, choose an AHAM-certified unit with a tobacco smoke CADR of at least two-thirds of the area (80 for 120 sq ft), avoid ozone-producing devices, and ventilate when outdoor air is clean.
Health Canada says most provinces and territories set rules for building a well. Hire a licensed well contractor, build the well before the house, record its type, depth and registration number, and site it away from septic systems, fuel and waste, with drainage away from the wellhead.
Health Canada says not to use well water during a flood or after a nearby wildfire, not to turn the pump on after a flood, and not to run taps or flush toilets in a power outage. When to test and shock disinfect, fire and fuel tank checks, drought and freezing.
Health Canada’s method for shock disinfecting a well after E. coli: unscented 5.25% bleach amounts by casing and water depth, safety steps, 12 to 24 hours of no use, and retesting. Plus how to match UV, filters, reverse osmosis, distillation and softeners to NSF/ANSI standards.
Health Canada says to inspect a private well at least yearly: wellhead clear, cap watertight, vent screened, ground sloped away, 3 m trimmed grass. Contamination sources, fuel and chemical storage, sealing unused wells, and septic dos and don’ts.
Health Canada says well owners are responsible for their water: test for E. coli and coliforms at least every 6 months and general quality every 2 years, sample in spring and fall and after floods, use an accredited lab, and know what to do if results come back positive.
Health Canada says indoor acetaldehyde often exceeds outdoor levels, from fireplaces, wood stoves, smoking, cooking oil, flooring, particleboard, fragrances and garages. Health effects, the 1,420 µg/m³ (1 h) and 280 µg/m³ (24 h) limits, and Health Canada’s control measures.
Health Canada says indoor air accounts for more than 95% of Canadians’ naphthalene intake, from mothballs, paints, solvents, sealants, flooring, smoke, cooking, wood stoves and garages. Animal cancer findings, haemolytic anemia and G6PD, the 10 µg/m³ limit, and mothball safety.
Health Canada says toluene exposure comes mostly from indoor air: paints, adhesives, floor coverings, cleaners, polishes, automotive products, tobacco smoke and attached garages. Health effects, typical home levels, and the 15 mg/m³ (8 h) and 2.3 mg/m³ (24 h) limits.
Health Canada says asbestos is banned in Canada but may remain in older siding, plaster, tiles, roofing, caulking, pipe insulation and vermiculite. It is no significant risk when undisturbed. Health effects, testing before renovation, vermiculite attic steps and brakes.
Health Canada says indoor xylene levels in Canadian homes are at least 3 times outdoor levels, driven by attached garages, gasoline, gas-powered equipment, stains, caulking and smoking. Health effects, the 7 200 and 150 µg/m³ limits, and garage fan and sealing fixes.
Health Canada says most indoor ozone comes from outdoor smog, plus some air cleaners, printers and photocopiers. Health effects, the 40 µg/m³ (20 ppb) 8-hour residential limit, air conditioning on peak afternoons, and why to avoid ozone generators.
Health Canada says lead service lines are the most significant source of lead in drinking water. How to spot one, Canada’s 0.005 mg/L guideline, temporary steps (cold water only, flush after a few hours), certified filters and permanent fixes.
Health Canada says acrolein is generally higher indoors, from smoking, incense, cooking with oils, gas stoves and fireplaces. Its limits (38 µg/m³ 1-hour, 0.44 µg/m³ 24-hour), why it advises against testing, and how to lower exposure.
Health Canada says VOCs may be present even if you can’t smell them, but most indoor levels in Canadian homes don’t pose a significant risk. Its sources, from frying to air fresheners, and fixes: ventilate, low-emission products, seal the garage door.
Health Canada lists mould, tobacco smoke and cooking as the top indoor PM2.5 sources. Its fixes: damp-cloth and HEPA cleaning, a candle snuffer, the cooking exhaust fan, humidity control to prevent mould, filters and HRVs, and low-ozone air cleaners.
Health Canada says Legionella grows in warm, still water in devices like humidifiers, hot tubs and water heaters and is inhaled as mist. Its steps: water heater at 60°C (tap no higher than 49°C), clean mist devices, run unused taps, flush the tank.
Health Canada says deer mice may invade in the fall and Norway rats prefer damp crawl spaces. Its rodent-proofing list: seal gaps, screen vents, eliminate water sources like leaky taps and sweating pipes, trap properly, and never sweep dry droppings.
The City of Toronto says outdoor faucets freeze first and pipes near outside walls, crawl spaces, attics and garages are most at risk. Its prevention steps, deep-freeze and away-from-home tips, and how to thaw a pipe safely without a flame.
Health Canada says cellar spiders build webs in cool, damp basements and can be controlled by removing webs and reducing the humidity. How to tell common Canadian house spiders apart, bite advice, and its prevention tips.
Health Canada says cluster flies seek winter shelter in late summer and early fall, crawling into openings in siding and under eaves. Its prevention list (screens, weatherstripping, caulking, soffit vent screening) doubles as fall air sealing.
Health Canada says mosquitoes grow in still water and even small amounts matter. Its checklist: clean gutters, fix dripping outdoor taps, drain low spots, empty or screen rain barrels, flip containers, plus what doesn’t work.
Health Canada says cockroaches are drawn to warm, damp kitchens, bathrooms, basements and plumbing areas. Its fixes start with water: insulate sweating pipes, repair leaks, ventilate bathrooms and dehumidify, then clean, trap and seal.
Health Canada says NO₂ can decrease lung function and worsen asthma, and gas appliances are the main home source. Its indoor limits (20 µg/m³ 24-hour, 170 µg/m³ 1-hour) and tips: outside-vented range hood, back burners, yearly inspections.
Health Canada says a persistent indoor infestation of sowbugs, pillbugs or millipedes may indicate a serious moisture problem. How to tell them apart, and its fixes from grading and mulch to a basement dehumidifier.
Health Canada says carpenter ants indoors can signal a moisture problem. How to tell them from termites, where to inspect, signs of a nest, and control steps starting with correcting humidity and replacing decayed wood.
Health Canada says silverfish prefer 75 to 95% relative humidity. How to tell silverfish from firebrats, where they hide, and Health Canada’s steps: clean, fix leaks, ventilate, dehumidify, trap, and use approved products.
A Public Safety Canada brochure on winter power failures: standby heat, carbon monoxide and generator safety, draining the plumbing if you evacuate, and restarting and drying the house afterward.
Health Canada says indoor CO₂ mostly comes from breathing and is used as a ventilation indicator. Its 1000 ppm 24-hour limit, the symptoms it lists, and how to lower CO₂ with ventilation and source control.
Health Canada says hot, humid days raise formaldehyde off-gassing from furniture and finishes. Its indoor limits, common sources, and advice: ventilate, cut sources, keep humidity near 50% in summer and 30% in winter.
NRCan’s LEEP guide to vented vaulted (cathedral) roofs: a 2.5-inch vent space, 1/150 vent area, a sealed ceiling air and vapour barrier, airtight pot lights and skylights, and ice dam risk.
CMHC’s bathroom moisture checklist as a diagnosis guide: a dripping fan grille, curling tiles, a wobbly toilet, cold fan ducts, weak backdraft dampers, and fixes like a 15-minute fan run and a humidistat.
How ENERGY STAR certifies bathroom fans and range hoods, using the criteria from NRCan and the US EPA: the 2.0-sone noise cap for most fans, minimum airflow per watt, the rule that a fan must keep 70% of its airflow under real duct resistance, multi-speed testing, the 1-year warranty, and NRCan’s tip to pair a fan with a certified dehumidifier.
CMHC’s Moisture and Air guide on the three conditions behind condensation, the order of fixes (moisture first, then warm surfaces, then ventilation), and the four ways to ventilate a house: why opened windows aren’t reliable, why exhaust-only fans can depressurize a home, how a simple balanced system works, and what an HRV adds.
Health Canada’s carbon monoxide pages: the four steps when an alarm goes off, why the hallway outside the bedrooms matters most, battery backup and a digital display, Canadian certification marks, expiry dates, generator distances, snow-blocked exhaust vents, and the symptoms of low and high exposure.
Health Canada’s 2026 radon-reduction factsheet and the Canadian radon guideline: the 200 Bq/m³ action level and the one-year timeline, which rooms count, why active soil depressurization beats ventilation, when sealing cracks helps, the three-step retest plan, and the passive radon stack Health Canada recommends for every new home.
Natural Resources Canada’s 2026 LEEP guide to heated crawl spaces and at-grade slabs: why outside insulation lowers condensation risk, why inside-insulated crawl walls need an airtight layer, the taped 10- or 15-mil slab poly that doubles as a radon barrier, the gravel capillary break, gravity-drained foundation drains, and the slab-at-door detail.
Natural Resources Canada’s 2026 LEEP guide to sloped roofs with rigid insulation on top of the roof deck: why it keeps the wood warm and dry, how the deck membrane drains leaks and condensation away, why ice-dam risk is minimal, why a vent space and airtightness still matter, and why batts in the rafters need a moisture analysis.
Natural Resources Canada’s 2026 LEEP guide to conventional flat roofs over living space: why drainage is the key to avoiding leaks, why an overflow scupper should sit below the lowest door sill and drain where you can see it, the 8-inch waterproofing rule at roof-deck doors, parapet condensation, and why stuffing batts into the roof joists needs a professional.
Natural Resources Canada’s 2026 LEEP guide to floors that sit over outdoor air: why the air barrier is a common weak spot, how to seal floor sheathing, ducts and pipes, why bump-out soffits need a membrane, what damp ground below does, and why low-permeance foam can trap moisture.
Natural Resources Canada’s 2026 LEEP roof guide explains how ice dams form, why warm air leaking into the attic is a main cause, the 1/300 attic-vent rule and 2.5-inch airspace, wind-washing baffles, a gasketed attic hatch, and why venting can’t make up for a leaky ceiling.
Ontario’s provincial maintenance standards (O. Reg. 517/06) cover mould on walls and ceilings, ventilation, weathertight windows, leaks, damp-proofed basements and 20°C heat. The Landlord and Tenant Board’s brochure sets out how to ask for repairs in writing, when to call the municipality, how a T6 application works, and why you shouldn’t withhold rent.
Why “black mould” and “toxic mould” aren’t mould species, what mycotoxins are, what causes the musty smell, why dead mould can still trigger allergies, and why EPA says bleach isn’t a routine fix, from Chapter 1 of the US EPA Mold Course.
The US EPA Mold Course on protecting yourself and the rest of the house during mould cleanup: three levels of protective gear by area, which gloves suit bleach versus mild detergent, why vented safety glasses don’t count, limited versus full containment, negative pressure, and when crawl spaces and HVAC are pro-only.
Material-by-material drying from the US EPA Mold Course: carpet and pad, concrete, hard floors, drywall (dry in place or remove), upholstered furniture, wood and panelling, what usually gets thrown out, and EPA’s test for when a mould cleanup is actually finished.
What the US EPA’s mould course says about finding hidden mould: behind drywall, under carpet pads, in pipe chases and crawl spaces; which tools help; why sampling is rarely needed when you can see mould; and things that only look like mould.
The US EPA’s review of ozone generators sold as air cleaners: at levels within health standards ozone does not remove mould, it can’t reach mould in porous materials, it doesn’t remove dust or spores, it can create irritating by-products, and following the instructions doesn’t guarantee safe levels.
What the US EPA’s duct-cleaning guide says: when cleaning is worth it (visible mould, vermin, heavy debris), why wet fibreglass duct liner must be replaced, why moisture at the cooling coil is the real risk, the case against routine biocides and sealants, and a post-cleaning checklist.
What ENERGY STAR’s maintenance checklist and CMHC’s heating-system checklist say about furnace filters, plugged condensate drains, dusty grilles and baseboards, furnace-mounted humidifiers and unheated rooms, plus which jobs belong to a contractor.
CMHC’s basement checklist for musty smells and damp: keep floor-drain traps full (mineral oil trick), seal the sump pit, rethink the cold cellar, cover earth floors, clear clutter, and what to watch for if you don’t own a hygrometer.
Natural Resources Canada’s tables on caulking and weatherstripping: which caulk for tubs, windows and chimneys, the 6 mm backer-rod rule, why some strips harden, frost or ice up in the cold, door sweeps vs thresholds, and curing time.
Health Canada’s Healthy Home Guide, filtered for moisture: what to check in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, basement, garage and outside, why dish soap beats bleach for small mould spots, and what renters can ask their landlord.
Natural Resources Canada on wall insulation retrofits: the brick-veneer and double-brick drainage spaces you must never fill, signs of moisture to fix first, old vapour barriers, blown-in insulation, and sealing an attached garage.
Natural Resources Canada’s building-science basics: the stack effect, why one small air leak moves 100 times more moisture than diffusion, air vs vapour barriers, the 1/3–2/3 rule, and why tightening a house raises humidity.
Natural Resources Canada calls air leakage control the single most important retrofit. How to find leaks with incense, the room-by-room checklist, caulking tips, and why a tighter house needs humidity, ventilation and combustion-air checks.
Health Canada’s guide to portable humidifiers: the three types, why water left sitting in a cool-mist unit is a risk, what the white dust on furniture is, when distilled water helps, and why it shouldn’t run in the bedroom overnight.
How to read the sticker on a replacement window in Canada: NRCan’s ENERGY STAR thresholds (U-factor 1.22 or ER 34, air leakage 1.5 L/s/m²), what each number means, and the glazing details that matter for condensation.
Natural Resources Canada on how an air-source heat pump removes moisture when cooling (coil, drain pan, condensate drain), why the outdoor coil frosts up and defrosts in winter, and which fan settings and maintenance help.
ENERGY STAR’s room air conditioner guide: why an oversized window unit leaves rooms clammy, the BTU sizing chart and adjustments, why low fan speed removes more moisture, levelling for drainage, and removing or covering the unit for winter.
ENERGY STAR explains why front-load washers trap moisture behind their airtight door seal, and what to do: leave the door ajar for an hour or two, follow the maker’s monthly rinse, and use a high spin to cut drying moisture.
Health Canada lists indoor cannabis cultivation as a household moisture source. What it advises on grow-area ventilation and plant numbers, and the public-health fact sheet it cites on hygrometers, dehumidifiers and CO risks.
Health Canada says to store firewood in a garage or shed, not the house. Here is why wet wood adds indoor moisture, NRCan’s firewood moisture grades (M20, M25, M35), and how to season and stack it.
Government of Canada guidance on protecting belongings from basement flooding: what to move upstairs, the 30 cm shelf rule for basement units, waterproof storage, home inventories, and hazardous products.
Government of Canada guidance on elevating or moving basement appliances: the 30 cm target, flood-resistant stands, wall-mounting HVAC equipment, and what needs a professional first.
Government of Canada guidance on monitoring a nearby catch basin: what clogs it, the 10-minute clearing job, how often to check, and when to call your municipality.
Government of Canada guidance on rain gardens, rock channels from downspouts and permeable pavement: where to put them, how deep to dig, and the light upkeep they need.
Where a dryer’s moisture goes: Health Canada’s dryer-vent checklist (outside venting, foil-taped joints, lint, snow-free vent hood) and ENERGY STAR on ventless heat pump dryers that condense water instead.
Natural Resources Canada’s pre-renovation checklist for basements: leaks, dampness signs, the plastic-sheet test, active cracks, new-concrete drying time, and why damp walls shouldn’t be insulated from inside.
Health Canada says to regularly clean and disinfect anything that holds water. Here’s how that applies to dehumidifier buckets, humidifier tanks, AC and fridge drip pans, plus ENERGY STAR placement tips.
Natural Resources Canada’s crawl-space moisture advice: a polyethylene floor barrier, monthly humidity checks, spring-only vents, and when a dehumidifier beats opening exterior vents.
How Health Canada sizes a mould problem (1 m² and 3 m² thresholds), rating musty odours, why it doesn’t recommend air testing, and how to recognize a qualified remediation professional.
Government of Canada guidance on the three underground drainage systems: what each does, how deep they go, signs you may need one, and why a working weeping tile can still clog.
Government of Canada guidance on clearing snow and ice from the foundation, window wells, downspouts, exhaust vents and roof, how far to shovel it, and when to act.
Government of Canada guidance on property grading: the ideal slope, how much higher the soil should be at the foundation, paved areas, French drains, and the spring and fall check.
Government of Canada guidance on inspecting a foundation inside and out, sealing minor cracks, tracking crack growth, and when to call a professional.
Government of Canada guidance on sealing basement windows, clearing window wells of debris, ice and snow, adding well covers, and how often to check them.
Government of Canada guidance on water alarms (leak detectors): what they detect, where to place them in a basement, smart versus basic models, and the yearly battery change and test.
Government of Canada guidance on what a backwater valve does, who should consider one, professional installation, twice-yearly cleaning, and how to avoid a “self-flood” during heavy rain.
Government of Canada guidance on how a sump pump works, the yearly test, backup pumps for power outages, and where the discharge should go so water stays out of your basement.
Government of Canada guidance on cleaning, extending and maintaining eavestroughs and downspouts so roof water and snowmelt stay away from the foundation and out of the basement air.
ENERGY STAR’s guidance on portable room units versus ducted whole-home dehumidifiers: who each suits, how they drain, cold-space limits, and what to check before buying.
What humidity to set on a basement dehumidifier in warm weather and in cold weather, when Health Canada says to run one, and how cold basements change the hardware you need.
NRCan’s rule of thumb is not to set the heat below 17°C, and if you go lower for a long trip, keep humidity low. Here is how to prepare a house you’re leaving for a week or more.
Why NRCan says an oversized air conditioner leaves a house cool and damp, why single-hose portable units pull in humid air, and how to keep summer RH below 50%.
Natural Resources Canada’s capacity chart in litres per day, what Integrated Energy Factor means, and the setup tips that keep a dehumidifier effective.
What Health Canada’s ventilation guide says about running the furnace fan, fan cyclers, closed bedroom doors and opening windows in winter.
Health Canada says air cleaners mainly remove particles and are rarely effective on their own. For wet windows, what it recommends instead is controlling moisture and ventilating.
Health Canada’s basement checklist: why cardboard on the floor, carpets and clutter against outside walls invite mould, and what to use instead.
Health Canada’s steps for drying a home after a leak or flood: remove water, discard what can’t be dried, then ventilate and dehumidify back to 30–50%.
Window condensation and dust mites share a cause: too much indoor moisture. Here is Health Canada’s humidity range and its checklist for both.
What Health Canada’s current guidance says about indoor humidity, its colder-weather target for keeping windows dry, and what to do if the air feels too dry.
Why frost builds up on attic nails and sheathing, how much is normal according to NRCan, and why sealing ceiling air leaks beats adding vents.
Why replacing old leaky windows can make condensation worse at first, what Canadian government guides recommend, and how to bring humidity back in line.
How much moisture a fish tank adds to a room, when it actually matters for window condensation, and the lid, airing, and humidity habits that keep the glass dry.
Why toilet tanks and cold pipes drip on humid days, how to tell sweat from a leak, and the fixes that work, from fans to anti-sweat valves.
Why metal frames sweat or frost before the glass does, what a thermal break does and doesn’t fix, and what helps in an existing home.
How to set a furnace or room humidifier as winter gets colder so the air stays comfortable without fogging the windows.
Why dew forms on the outdoor face of efficient windows on cool, clear mornings, why it is usually a good sign, and when to worry.
Why the wall behind a wardrobe or bed grows mould when the windows are wet, and the airflow and humidity fixes that stop it.
Why skylights collect condensation first, how to tell drips from a roof leak, and the humidity and shaft fixes that actually help.
Why fog trapped between the panes is a failed sealed unit, how to tell it from room-side condensation, and what the fix actually is.
Why a newly built home fogs its windows in the first winter, how long construction moisture takes to leave, and what to do meanwhile.
Why basement windows fog and drip first, how below-grade rooms differ from upstairs, and a practical plan for clearer glass.
How heat- and energy-recovery ventilators affect indoor humidity and cold-glass condensation.
Where to put a portable dehumidifier so it actually helps cold-glass condensation.
Which houseplants raise humidity, where to place them relative to cold glass, watering timing, and trays vs soil moisture.
How lids, range hood timing, boiling vs simmering, and brief window cracks cut kitchen steam that fogs cold glass elsewhere.
How indoor drying racks and unvented dryers load a home with moisture, and what to change so windows stay clearer.
Warm indoor air, cold glass, and dew point — the two levers that control wet windows.
Wipe test, how many windows are wet, damage check, and what changed recently.
Place a hygrometer, check it with a salt test, log a week, and change one thing at a time.
People, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, humidifiers, plants, basements, and renovation moisture.
Bathroom fans, range hoods, dryer vents, humidifier tuning, dehumidifiers, and controlled fresh air.
Open coverings, clear heat paths, weatherstrip, insulation film, and when storm panels help.
Why bedrooms are worst overnight, and a practical plan for adults' and children's rooms.
What you can usually change yourself, what belongs to the building, and how to report clearly.
Morning wipe-down, hard-surface cleaning, when wood and drywall need more than a cloth.
Fog between panes, one bad window, rain leaks, and stubborn whole-home damp.
A two-week sequence: triage, habits, humidifiers, air movement, fans, then review.
Match wet-window patterns to likely causes and the first fix to try.
What indoor ice means, a cold-snap checklist, and why tighter homes get wetter.
Also related: an offline tool called Dry Glass Check compares inside glass temperature with the room’s dew point. An ebook, Wet Windows in Winter, expands the same plan into a longer room-by-room guide. This site has no checkout. Some articles include affiliate product links with an on-page disclosure.