Moisture Absorbing Buckets – Disastrous in a Vacation Home

Do Moisture Absorbing Buckets Help Vacant Homes?

Whenever I come across new information regarding vacant homes through education or personal experience, I like to share it with my clients. This particular blog discusses Moisture Absorbing Buckets. Shield Home Watch Services does NOT recommend the use of Moisture Absorbing Buckets in vacant homes or vehicles.

I’ve had the opportunity to speak with mold remediators, a mold inspector, HVAC professionals, and even other seasoned homewatchers like myself regarding Moisture Absorbing Buckets. The consensus is NO Moisture Absorbing Buckets in a vacant home!

For some reason the use of Moisture Absorbing Buckets has exploded for seasonal homeowners, probably because on the Moisture Absorbing Buckets refill bag it states, “Prevents mold and mildew stains.” and “Protects from moisture damage.”

Yes…Moisture Absorbing Buckets are designed to remove moisture from the air. By doing so, it helps reduce excessive humidity. It’s made up of an inorganic mineral salt called calcium chloride that absorbs moisture from the air.

Humidity (moisture) has to be present for mold to grow in your home. That’s why you hear everyone saying “It’s not the heat…it’s the humidity.” Your Florida home can be 88°F and under 50% relative humidity and it would be just fine. Sure, it would be considerably hot, but you wouldn’t have a mold bloom.

These are a few concerns we have with Moisture Absorbing Containers:

Small Moisture Absorbing Container:

The small containers are a money pit! You have to keep refilling them with granules. They topple over easily, and if you have them in your carpeted bedroom closet, they can leave an unsightly oily looking stain on your carpet.

Large Moisture Absorbing Container:

The containers are all open at the top. They are not sealed…if they were, then the moisture from the air wouldn’t be able to enter it. So now you have a container of liquid (moisture) just sitting in your vacant home or vehicle. What does mold need to grow, bloom, and spread? 

Hanging Moisture Absorbing Bags:

We have encountered leaked out DampRid bags at multiple vacant properties we service. Our clients would hang their moisture absorbing bags in their closets, pantries, and even in vehicles. Unfortunately, they did not realize that the bags they used had a very small hole in them. Once the bags started filling up with moisture, it mixed with the moisture absorbing granules and leaked all over the floor which turns into a very oily substance.

Home Suggestion:

If you are worried about high humidity in your Florida home, then:

• Make sure your air conditioning system is running properly so it will properly remove the moisture from your home.
• If you’re not confident in your AC system, then consider adding a portable dehumidifier in your home with a hose setup to drain the water directly into a kitchen sink or shower floor drain. Set it around 50% relative humidity.
• Keep a few of your ceiling fans running on low to help circulate the air.

Garage Suggestion:

If you are worried about high humidity in your Florida garage, then:

• Consider installing a small wall AC system in your garage.
• Consider having a ceiling fan installed so it can circulate the air.
• Consider having a sturdy box fan properly secured so it can circulate the air. You can set it up on a timer so it runs on low for maybe 5 hours a day. Make sure to plug it into a GFCI outlet.

Vehicle Suggestion:

If you are worried about high humidity in your Florida vehicle, then:

• Close all vehicle windows and engage your air recirculation button (to close the air intake door vent) before you turn off your vehicle. That way moist air from the garage doesn’t seep in through that vent.
• Have the interior of your vehicle thoroughly cleaned, wiped down, and vacuumed prior to leaving. That way you are not leaving behind organic material that can become a food source for mold

Shield Home Watch provides professional home services to all of Manatee County (Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Marie Island, etc.). We are a family owned and operated local business and lived in the area for over 5 years. Our complete range of home services includes Home Watch, Housekeeping, Concierge Services, Key Holiding Services, and Rental Property Management. To learn more about Shield Home Watch or to schedule a free Whole Home Survey or service call, please call us at (941) 735-4405. If you would like to book an appointment 24 hours a day please visit our booking site.