Moisture balance calculatorAbout
Moisture balance calculator
You need a balanced amount of moisture to maintain a healthy home. This means having a building which is not too dry and not too humid. Keeping your home in balance can be tricky as there are a lot factors to think about such as the moisture you generate in cooking, washing and so on, and your heating, ventilation and maintenance.
Using this tool should give you a better understanding of the moisture balance in your home and the factors at play. If your home is out of balance, you might be able to identify easy ways to regain moisture balance and create a healthier home.
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For more information of moisture in buildings and how to keep moisture at a healthy level see www.ukcmb.org.
Watch the UKCMB video for homeowners here which gives a simple explanation of moisture in buildings and some key practical advice.
To consult an expert on moisture within homes get in touch with the UKCMB: ukcmb@ucl.ac.uk.
This Moisture Balance Calculator is an interactive application for estimating the moisture balance of a house, based on answers to questions about moisture generation, occupancy, heating, ventilation and maintenance. If the home moisture is out of balance, easy actions can be explored to regain moisture balance.
However, while our focus is on moisture, there are other issues which can affect comfort, health and wellbeing. The user should be aware that the Moisture Balance Calculator should be used alongside other assessments in order to attain a more holistic balance. For example there is no point having a moisture balanced house which is too hot or too cold, or where you cannot have parties!
For a home (or building) to be in balance (not only moisture balance) a Whole Building Approach is recommended which integrates fabric energy efficiency measures (such as insulation, new windows, draught proofing), services improvement (particularly ventilation, heating and controls) along with proper consideration of how people live and use the building. The context of the building (its exposure, age, condition, form, appearance, etc) also needs to be considered. When all of these aspects are integrated well, a building is in balance.
Energy Efficiency measures, including insulation, draught proofing and ventilation applied as part of a Whole House approach can help to retain heat within the home as well as maintain a fresh and pleasant air atmosphere within the home, thus contributing to keep the house in balance.
This moisture balance calculator tool has been developed by the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB) (www.ukcmb.org). Funding and support from the Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association (MIMA) (www.mima.info) is gratefully acknowledged. The work has been undertaken by Isabel Carmona and Peter Cook working with Neil May and Dimitrios Rovas of the UKCMB.
All drawing work by Isabel Carmona.
The Moisture Balance Calculator is free to use. Copyright of the tool is retained by UKCMB.
The copyright of any document referenced remains with its authors.
Contact: for further information, please contact UKCMB: ukcmb@ucl.ac.uk