Should You Leave Water in Your Vacation Home to Raise RH?

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SUMMARY

Leaving pails of water in a vacation home to raise relative humidity (RH) is ineffective for maintaining construction materials. The discussion highlights that the small volume of water will evaporate too slowly to make a significant impact, especially considering the constant air exchange with the outside environment. The house, measuring 2050 sq. ft. with 10' ceilings, lacks a basement, which further diminishes the effectiveness of this method. Overall, the consensus suggests that this practice is unnecessary and potentially counterproductive.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of relative humidity (RH) and its effects on construction materials
  • Basic knowledge of home ventilation systems
  • Familiarity with the climate conditions in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Awareness of the materials used in home construction
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of humidity on different construction materials
  • Learn about effective methods for maintaining humidity levels in homes
  • Explore home ventilation strategies to minimize moisture-related issues
  • Investigate climate control solutions for vacation homes in arid environments
USEFUL FOR

Homeowners, property managers, and anyone interested in maintaining the integrity of vacation homes in dry climates will benefit from this discussion.

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I hope it is ok to post a rather pedestrian question to those of you who may laugh.
We own a vacation home in Phoenix and continually folks insist we should leave pails of water in the house while we're away to help raise the RH and keep construction materials from drying out, cracking etc.
This seems to me silly considering the small amount of water which would evaporate into the enclosure of the house not even taking into account the air exchange constantly taking place with the outside air.
If it matters, the house is 2050 sq. ft. with no basement and 10' ceilings.
Please let me know if it is me who is out to lunch. Would you water your house while away?
Thanks in advance for any and all input.
Brad
 
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What is the house made of? Too much humidity is bad as well.
The effect of some open water will depend on many factors.
 

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