There are many good reasons to keep the humidity level low in your house.
A lower humidity level can help to keep your family more comfortable. It will also save you money by reducing your need for air conditioning or heating and improve your indoor air quality by discouraging the growth of dust mites and mold. Even more importantly, reducing indoor humidity can protect your home from moisture damage!
High humidity is as easy to recognize as feeling the temperature change when walking in and out, but it can also be spotted in other ways. There can be visible signs such as condensation on windows or mirrors, mold or mildew growths, and wet spots on walls or ceilings.
Some common causes of excess moisture include:
- Bathroom Ventilation – Bathrooms are notorious for high humidity, especially if you aren’t opening a window or operating a ventilation fan during showers and baths.
- Indoor Plants – It may sound strange, but having a large amount of indoor plants can increase humidity. A few plants promote a healthy environment, but a large amount can increase moisture levels and reduce the effectiveness of your HVAC system.
- Roof and Basement Areas – The roof and basement are common sources of humidity in the home. Even a minor roof leak can collect and hold moisture for long periods of time. Similarly, an improperly sealed basement or poorly fitted flooring are also major sources of moisture entering the home.
- HVAC Maintenance – A dirty or blocked condenser coil will prevent your HVAC unit from removing water from the air.
There are some relatively easy solutions to help reduce your indoor humidity levels. Most of these solutions are cheap and easy to maintain. It may take a little bit of work but keeping humidity levels low can save you from serious problems down the road!
Here are some great ways to keep indoor humidity low:
- Change your shower routine – Be sure to run a ventilation fan or open a window during your shower. You can also make an effort to take shorter showers. By shortening the length of showers and increasing ventilation you can reduce the moisture build-up inside your home.
- Cover the soil of houseplants – a layer of rocks will stop the moisture from leaving the soil and entering your home’s air. If you have a large collection of houseplants, try putting some outside, if the weather permits. Potted plants give off moisture and you may notice a reduction in humidity with them outside.
- Improve air circulation – Well circulated air will dry out faster than having a stagnant air flow. Make sure that your ceiling fans are set to summer rotation and running. If you don’t already have them, install and use bathroom and kitchen ventilation fans. Good ventilation can do wonders when there is an excess of moisture in your home. Leaving the doors open to the rooms in your house is also a good way to improve air circulation.
- Be conscious in the kitchen – Cooking indoors also raises humidity levels quickly. Cover pots while you’re cooking and always keep your vent fan running while you have liquids heating on the stove. If you don’t have a vent fan, get one installed or open your windows. Cooking outside on a grill can be a great way to keep excess moisture outside!
- Dehumidifier – Remove moisture from the air with a dehumidifier. Portable dehumidifiers are very effective in laundry rooms, basements, bathrooms and any room that isn’t air-conditioned or has poor air circulation. If a room isn’t attached to your HVAC, this can be a great solution to reducing humidity in the entire house. Be aware that you will need to empty the collected water on most portable units!
If you think you have a problem that is too big to be solved by these solutions, give us a call at Action Air. We have solutions that can help, including cleaning your HVAC unit, installing or repairing the dehumidifier on your unit, or installing a new unit. Our experienced technicians will be able to help identify the problem and come up with the perfect solution for your family. Remember, when you need action, call Action Air!
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