Using appliances, cooking, and taking hot showers are some activities that lead to moisture buildup at home. When steam accumulates in your house, it causes a rise in the humidity levels. The vapor condenses into water droplets on a cool surface, damaging your paint, insulation, and wood surfaces.
Even worse, too much humidity can cause mold growth, mildew, or allergen accumulation, leading to severe respiratory ailments. It also decreases your HVAC unit’s efficiency by making your indoor air warmer, so your system will have to work even harder to create comfortable airflow.
The good news is there are various tips that you can use to decrease the humidity level in your residence. Keep reading to gain more insights.
1. Run A Dehumidifier
If you notice a high humidity level, at 65% or above, the best solution is to buy a dehumidifier. It traps moisture from the circulating air. You can even get a large-scale option to serve the entire property, which will most likely be placed in the basement. Ensure that you have sealed off the whole room sufficiently before running the dehumidifier, and be sure to keep it off any walls to allow for sufficient air circulation.
2. Use An Air Conditioner
Turning on the AC will also help reduce the humidity level in your home. Ensure that you have the right-sized air conditioner for your property and set it to the dry setting. This will help it to lower the moisture level as it cools the air. Keep it unobstructed for better airflow, and make sure you get it regularly serviced by a professional to ensure proper functioning.
3. Dry Your Clothes Outside
Home laundry is a significant source of humidity in your house. When you hang wet clothes inside, they release a lot of moisture into the air, and it can be even worse in poorly ventilated rooms. To avoid this, dry your clothes entirely in vented driers or hang them outside to keep the moisture level down inside your residence.
4. Use Fans
An exhaust fan can help eliminate moisture in the kitchen or bathroom. Note that, while cooking, the oven or cooktop produces a lot of steam. Hence, cover your food or use a slow cooker that releases less moisture. While most people immediately turn off the exhaust fan once they are done cooking or showering, it would be best to leave them running a little longer to remove most excess moisture.
5. Replace Your AC Filters
As mentioned earlier, the air conditioner acts as a perfect tool in removing indoor moisture. However, it will only work effectively when the filters are clean. After using your unit for a more extended time period, the filters get clogged with dust, dirt, and other particles that limit airflow. As a result, your AC unit won’t be as efficient at reducing humidity. Hence, clean your filters often, and remember to replace them every three months to lower the humidity level in your house.
6. Take Cold, Shorter Showers
While most people enjoy long, hot showers, especially after a busy day at work, it might expose your home to too high of humidity levels. The longer you shower, the more steam you produce, which will increase moisture accumulation. Adjust your shower temperature to a few degrees lower, and also try to spend less time in the shower so that you do not release too much steam into the air.
Alternatively, you can take a cold bath since it creates fewer humidity effects. You can also opt for some efficient low-flow showerheads that minimize the amount of moisture released into your house. Additionally, do not open the tap fully to create some less powerful streams, which helps reduce moisture levels.
7. Ventilate the House
The easiest way to reduce the moisture content in your residence is to leave the windows open. This creates good airflow that dries out damp air, especially in the kitchen or bathroom. However, avoid opening the windows while running your air conditioner. It will leak the warm air inside, so your unit will have to work harder to produce the desired effects, leading to a spike in your utility bills.
8. Change Your Carpet
Although carpets improve the visual appeal in a room and cushion surfaces, they retain high moisture levels. They, therefore, create breeding grounds for pollutants and contribute to high moisture levels. This mainly happens with rugs on concrete floors. Such floors require a vapor barrier covered with sub-floorings to manage the moisture problem. Also, ensure that you use washable rugs and clean them often, especially if you begin to notice some moldy or damp smell in your carpet.
9. Insulate Surfaces and Fix All Leaks
If your doors, windows, and walls have some cracks, they can let moisture into your house. During warm, humid weather, moist air can flow from the outdoors into your home and condensate on cooler items. This scenario will cause mold and mildew issues if you do not wipe down the surfaces. Regularly check your walls for cracks and fix them as soon as possible.
You can also apply a weather strip on doors and windows to create an airtight seal, separating the interior air from the exterior. This helps prevents humidity from seeping into your residence. Consider this improvement mainly if you reside in a warmer climate with humid outdoor conditions. It will not only help with moisture reduction but also make your house very energy-efficient.
Additionally, use caulking to line areas that can leak moisture like the sink, faucet, tubs, seams, or windows to prevent humid air from entering the house. Also, look for any leaking pipes where moisture may be coming in. Signs of leaking pipes or faucets include wet spots, stained walls, and irregular utility bills. Insulate all the cold pipes to avoid creating a cool surface and to prevent steam condensation during the warm season.
10. Use Dehumidifying House Plants
Although plants are beautiful to have around, some of them contribute to high humidity levels. If you have numerous indoor plants, consider moving them to an outside space or a well-ventilated room. Still, if you must grow plants, consider those that absorb humidity from the air like the Boston fern. Also, remember to mulch the soil covering your house plants to prevent evaporation. If the soil is not covered, it may result in higher humidity levels, and you will need to water the plants more often, too.
Conclusion
Too much indoor moisture creates a scorching and uncomfortable environment, making you sweaty most of the time. Hopefully, the above tips will help you lower the humidity levels in your house to leave you feeling better both mentally and physically. Reduced moisture makes your home smell better and decreases allergen levels to create healthier conditions. It will also improve efficiency in your air conditioner, protect your property, and improve personal comfort.
If you need professional help in maintaining comfortable indoor air quality, reach out to Holbrook Heating & Air Conditioning. We are highly experienced in the heating and cooling industry with a history of exceptional services and reliable results. We serve Binghamton, Southern Tier, Albany, Syracuse, and the surrounding areas.
Our services include furnace repair and installation as well as AC installation, repair, and maintenance. You can also depend on us for indoor air quality solutions like humidifiers, dehumidifiers, media filters, and HRVs. Call our reliable team of experts today to make an appointment. Let us handle all of your indoor comfort needs.