Three Tips For Preventing Condensation From Damaging Your Metal Building

Metal is a sturdy material, capable of withstanding a lot of wear and tear. However, one of its weaknesses is water, which can cause metal to rust and eventually fall apart. Unfortunately, metal buildings located in areas where humidity is high tend to constantly be besieged with condensation. Here are a few tips for dealing with this problem.

Properly Insulate Your Building

While insulating your building can help you save money on your energy bills, it can also prevent condensation from damaging the metal by acting as a barrier between the building and the water. This way, the condensation will form on the insulation rather than the building itself.

The best kind of insulation to use for this task is one that has a vinyl backing, because the vinyl will prevent the water from penetrating through to the metal. Although you should insulate the entire structure, pay particular attention to the area near the roof. Heat rises, so warm humid air will collect in this area and cause the most problems.

Ensure There's Plenty of Air Circulation

One reason why condensation forms is because there isn't enough air circulating to prevent the excess water from hanging around. Thus, the other important thing you can do is ensure your building has ventilation and air circulation technology in strategic places, which will promote evaporation.

For instance, you should have vents and a fan placed near the ceiling. As noted previously, condensation tends to form most often at the top of the building because heat rises. Putting vents and fans in this area will circulate the air and ensure the metal remains dry.

Install a Dehumidifier

A third thing you can do is install a dehumidifier inside your building. This appliance is designed to extra excess moisture from the air, which can help keep the interior at optimal humidity levels. In addition to preventing condensation from forming, a dehumidifier may make it the interior more comfortable for employees as well as prevent humidity damage to the things stored in the metal building (e.g. products).

Your air conditioner system will typically have a dehumidifying effect on the air. However, it's unlikely you'll be running it year round. Therefore, it's best to have a separate unit installed that you can run independent from your A/C unit whenever it's needed.

For more tips on preventing condensation damage to your building or to repair damage that may already be done, contact a metal building contractor.