High levels of humidity in the air outside are miserable. Humidity makes you feel sluggish, overheated, and can even make it hard to breathe. When humidity inside of your home becomes higher than what is recommended, this can not only make you feel uncomfortable, it can also be an issue for the structure of your home. The recommended level of humidity in a home should be somewhere between thirty and fifty percent. Anything over sixty percent is far too high. Let’s take a closer look at some tried and true methods of reducing humidity in the home.
Invest in a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is designed to remove moisture from the air in your home. There are a number of different units that you can select from. If you have one certain area of your home that has concentrated moisture, a stand-alone unit can suffice. This is often a solution for people who have damp basements. If your entire home is battling high levels of humidity then you can invest in a whole-house dehumidifier that attaches to your HVAC system. This gets the job done quickly, and in no time you will enjoy more comfortable indoor air quality.
Use Your Air Conditioner
The most common time of the year for humidity levels to be high is during the summer months. If you are trying to save money by not running your air conditioner, you are also increasing humidity in the home. Let your air conditioner run even if it is for just a few minutes. This will help with reducing humidity in the home. Be sure to use the “auto” setting instead of the “on” setting if your goal is to make your home less humid.
Use Exhaust Fans for Reducing Humidity in the Home
When you take a shower, the steam from your bathroom will increase the humidity in your living space. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes for your whole house to become uncomfortable after someone has showered. Using your exhaust fans is an effective way to reduce humidity in the home. Most bathrooms come with a fan installed in the ceiling. When you are running the water in the bathroom, turn on the exhaust fan. This will draw the moist air from your bathroom outside where it really belongs. The same goes for exhaust fans in the kitchen. Always use them when cooking to help with reducing humidity in the home.
Seal Cracks and Gaps
Every home has them, but if you have too many gaps and cracks in different areas of your home this can lead to high levels of humidity inside by allowing the humid outside air into your home. Take an afternoon to investigate around your home. Seal up any large areas that could be letting too much outdoor air inside with weatherstripping or caulk.
When you lower the humidity in your home to more comfortable levels you’ll improve a number of things. Not only will you feel better, you will be able to protect your walls, wood, flooring, and siding from mold and mildew growth. Your clothes and furniture can even start to smell musty over time if the moisture level in the air is too high.
Once humidity levels are in check you may also notice that you have a decrease in allergies and illness. A lot of moisture in the air can hold fine particulates that are unhealthy for your body. Try out our tips for reducing humidity and enjoy a more comfortable home this summer.
Gable Home Inspections provides home inspection services including mold inspections to Southwest Florida. Contact us to schedule an appointment for our services.