Does it feel like a sauna every time you step into your home? Then your home clearly has too much humidity. Certain home features can contribute to extra humidity, as well as some appliances. Of course, homes need to have certain amounts of moisture to be comfortable, but if there is too much, it can be trouble.
How do you know if you have too much humidity in your home?
- Mold growth
- Peeling paint
- Sweating from walls or basement floors
- Lingering odors
- Increased allergy symptoms
- Rotten wood
Once you have established that you have too much humidity, how do you bring the moisture level down into a healthy level?
Remove sources that generate excess humidity: There can be a variety of factors that lead to excess humidity. A leaky roof, too many houseplants, a damp basement, inadequate insulation, or an HVAC system that isn’t the proper size can all play important parts. In addition, check to make sure that your dryer has proper unobstructed ventilation that leads to the outdoors. Be sure that your kitchen and bathroom have fans installed. And, take shorter showers, as the steam from the showers can add excess moisture to the air for a longer amount of time.
Get a dehumidifier: Using a dehumidifier can be helpful because it takes out excess water out of the air. Portable dehumidifiers are available at department or hardware stores. This is a great solution for people that live in apartments or other multi-home complexes. For homeowners, consider calling a HVAC specialist about installing a heat pump dehumidifier in the dampest part of your home.
Dont create a jungle in your home: Plants are a great decorative addition to your home, but if you have too many of them, there will likely be too much humidity. If your plants are beginning to form mold on them, then there are definitely too many. Find new homes for your plants if your home is becoming a jungle.
Get a hygrometer: A hygrometer will read the moisture level in the air, which will allow you to see and make changes if needed, such as turning on fans or opening doors/windows for extra ventilation. A healthy humidity range is 30 to 50%, which can vary slightly during various seasons. Hygrometers can be found at hardware or department stores.
Check around and see what changes you can make in your home to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. Consider replacing old doors or windows with energy efficient products. With these changes, youll be able to enjoy a comfortable home.
