The Gift of a Healthy Home: 3 Winter Maintenance Tips for Treasure Valley Homeowners
The holidays are officially here in the Treasure Valley! Between the lights on the houses and the dusting of snow on the Foothills, it’s a beautiful time of year. It’s also the time of year when we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors. Whether you’re hosting the whole extended family or just settling in for a quiet winter, the "health" of your home matters more now than ever. At Johnny on the Spot Environmental, we know that the best holiday memories are made in homes that are safe, dry, and breathable.
Here are three quick things to keep an eye on this week to ensure your home stays a sanctuary all winter long.
1. Watch for the "Winter Sweat" (Condensation)
As the temperatures drop outside, we naturally crank up the heat and keep our windows tightly sealed. While this keeps us cozy, it also traps moisture inside. Between holiday cooking, hot showers, and even the breath of a house full of guests, indoor humidity levels can spike quickly. When that warm, moist air hits a cold surface—like a window pane or a corner of an exterior wall—it turns into condensation.
This "winter sweat" isn't just a minor nuisance; it is the primary fuel for winter mold growth. If you notice persistent fogging or water beads on your windows, your home's humidity is likely too high. We recommend using your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans more frequently during the holidays and aiming to keep your home’s humidity between 30% and 50%. If you see moisture accumulating behind furniture or in closets, it’s a sign that your home needs better airflow to prevent mold from taking hold while you sleep.
2. Don’t Ignore the Crawl Space
In Southwest Idaho, our winter "thaw and freeze" cycles can be brutal on a home’s foundation. As snow melts and rain falls on frozen ground, the water has nowhere to go but the path of least resistance, which is often right into your crawl space. Because we don't visit our crawl spaces often, a drainage failure can go unnoticed for weeks, leading to saturated insulation and wood rot.
If you’re pulling decorations out of storage and notice a faint, musty odor near the floorboards, don't ignore it. That smell is often the first sign that moisture is trapped beneath your feet. We suggest taking a quick peek into your crawl space access this week. If you see standing water, fallen insulation, or a vapor barrier that has been pushed aside, it’s vital to address the drainage now. Preventing water intrusion today is much easier and more affordable than a full-scale mold remediation project in the spring.
3. The "Closed-House" Radon Risk
Winter is peak season for Radon exposure in the Treasure Valley. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that rises from the soil, and because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, it is impossible to detect without professional equipment. During the summer, we often have doors and windows open, allowing the gas to dissipate. However, in the winter, our homes act like a vacuum.
When the heat is on, a "stack effect" is created where warm air rises and escapes through the attic, pulling replacement air - and Radon gas - up from the soil through cracks in the foundation or crawl space. Because we keep our homes sealed tight to save on energy bills, that gas becomes trapped and concentrated. If you haven't tested your home in over two years, the holiday season is the perfect time to get a baseline reading. Testing is a simple, non-invasive process that provides the ultimate peace of mind for your family’s long-term health.
