Toolbox: Heavy-Duty Dehumidifiers

Excess moisture from drying concrete, lumber, drywall mud, and paint can release as much as a ton of water into a house during the first heating season. This usually shows up as condensation on windows and skylights, but it can also accelerate other problems, such as mildew growth or rot, if other moisture sources exist or if the house is poorly ventilated. In addition, drywall mud can take forever to dry during a humid spell in the summer, or as temperatures drop in the fall, delaying schedules. If the finish flooring and trim is on site while drywall mud dries or a basement slab cures, the wood will take on moisture. This can lead to open miters and