How Can I Reduce Indoor Humidity?

High humidity in your home could damper your health and overall comfort. Humidity makes the summer heat feel worse, making you feel irritable, lethargic, and generally unwell. When most people hear about humidity, they think of hot and sticky outdoor air. However, it is important to consider your home’s indoor humidity levels. It’s a nightmare to have high indoor humidity during summertime. You will be hot, sweaty, and miserable. You will constantly long for relief from the misery. Air Makers has been the HVAC Company of Choice for almost 10 years and can help you get your indoor air quality back on track and ensure that your home is comfortable this summer. With air conditioner installation and repair services provided, you will be looking forward to the summer from the moment your AC is taken care of.

What is the normal level of indoor humidity?

Humidity is the measure of moisture vapour suspended in the air. Even when you can’t see it, humidity is always there. The ideal indoor humidity is 30-50%. Too much humidity could have an adverse impact on your comfort, home, and health. Your body can’t regulate its internal temperature appropriately through evaporation when there is too much humidity. A humid room feels much hotter even when the temperatures are not too high. High humidity could also make you sick because it leads to the growth of mould, fungus, and dust mites. These microorganisms could cause breathing problems, especially in people with allergies or asthma. On the other hand, very little humidity could trigger asthma, allergies and damage your wood floors, especially during winter.

How can I know that it is too humid in my home?

Having the right humidity levels in your home is critical. It will help you feel great and create a perfect home environment. You can tell that your home has high humidity if you can’t stop sweating.  You could also notice that you’re not sleeping well. Difficulty in breathing is also a common indicator of high humidity. Apart from the sweat and the discomfort, the easiest way to determine the humidity level is using a hygrometer. Hygrometers are affordable and accessible; you can find them in your local hardware. If the hygrometer records humidity levels higher than 45-50%, you need to find ways to reduce the humidity level.

Some ways how you can reduce the level of humidity

• Use Your Air Conditioner

  An air conditioner cools your home by blowing cool air into it and removing heat and humidity from your living spaces. You should ensure that your air conditioner is tuned up to keep humidity levels in control. Ensure that you change the AC filter at least once a month. AC filters play a crucial role in capturing and containing tiny particles of dust, dirt, debris, and pet dander that could compromise your indoor air quality. Filters are prone to clogging; clogged filters could lead to the cultivation of mould and other airborne bacteria. Ensure that your AC system is serviced often to spot problems that could reduce its efficiency.

• Actively Use Your Ventilation Fans

  Most homes come with ventilation fans already installed. The ventilation fans play a significant role in reducing the humidity levels in your home. The fans will remove the extra humidity created by boiling water, showering, cooking, or other activities that can create excess moisture in the air. You should not turn off the ventilation fans immediately you finish showering or cooking. You should let them run a little longer to help reduce the indoor humidity. If your home is not equipped with ventilation fans, installing them will help you maintain optimum humidity levels. Running the fans improves air circulation. Enclosed rooms are more humid because moisture has nowhere to escape. You should open the windows when running the ventilation fans to enhance air circulation.

• Fix Any Leaking pipes

  When trying to lower the indoor humidity, the last thing you want to have is a water leak in your home. If you are dealing with a leak, you should have it fixed as soon as possible to reduce the chance of mould and mildew growth. In addition to fixing leaks, you should ensure that you wrap the exposed pipe with insulators to prevent condensation. For a DIY leak repair, you should ensure that you dry out the affected area completely and replace any mouldy drywall or insulation. You can use caulk to fix leaks in faucets, water pipes, bathtubs, drains, and other plumbing fixtures. The common signs of leaks include wet spots, stained drywall, and irregular water bills.

• Keep Your Gutters Clean

  When gutters and downspouts are clogged with leaves, dirt, and debris, rainwater might not drain properly, and some might end up seeping into your house. When water is blocked from flowing away from your home, it can pool around your house’s foundation. When the gutters are not serving their purpose, water may accumulate on the roof until it becomes too hard to deal with, leading to a leaking roof. You might notice water dripping from the ceiling. As water seeps into your home, it will lead to mould growth and water damage in the roof, attic, and walls, which will further raise the humidity levels.

• Dry your Laundry Outside

  Drying clothes indoors could increase the dampness in your home by 30%. You will be intensifying the humidity problem by increasing the moisture levels. Drying clothes indoors could also be creating the perfect environment for mould growth. Other than posing a health risk, it will also increase condensation in your home. You might notice condensation on your windows, damp patches on your walls, and black mold on the window frames. Despite these negatives, a significant percentage of people in Canada still dry their clothes indoors. Not all clothes can be dried using a drier, and at times, it might not be practical to hang your clothes outside. If you must dry your clothes indoors, ensure that you purchase a dehumidifier.

• Get Humidifier

  A dehumidifier takes moisture out of your home. It is particularly important if you or your family member has allergies or asthma; a dehumidifier will make breathing easier and relieve symptoms. The good thing about a dehumidifier is that it will fit inside your furnace air handler, adequately removing moisture from the air as it passes through. You will enjoy the dry and cool air, especially during summer. Since the dehumidifier keeps the moisture levels low, you will use your air conditioner less, and this will help reduce your energy bills. You will realize great savings on money spent on cooling bills. Drying the indoor air keeps allergy triggers like dust mites, mould, animal dander, and pollen to a minimum.

• Move Your House Plants

  Houseplants often increase indoor humidity through a process known as transpiration. When plants absorb water using their roots, this moisture circulates through the stem and the leaves. When the water reaches the leaves, it evaporates into the air, increasing the indoor humidity. If you notice that the indoor humidity levels are high, you should move your houseplants outside or to a well-ventilated room. Common houseplants that add humidity levels to the air include Areca Palm, Peace Lily, Rubber Plant, English Ivy, and Spider Plant, among others. You could move the houseplants outside during summer when humidity levels are high and return them indoors when humidity levels fall, usually during winter.

• Open Window

  At times, simply opening the windows is enough to lower the humidity levels. In most circumstances, this trick works, but it might not work in others. If the humidity levels outside are higher than the indoor humidity, opening the window is not effective. Opening the windows will work best if the indoor humidity is higher than the outdoor humidity. You can use a hygrometer to keep track of the humidity levels inside and outside of your house. The indoor humidity automatically reduces when the outside humidity is lower; fresh air from outside flows through the window into your home, making the indoor air less humid.

Air Makers are here to help

Sometimes, indoor humidity issues require complex solutions, especially if the sources of moisture are hidden. If you have serious condensation and mould issues due to high indoor humidity levels, Air Makers can help restore optimum humidity levels in your home. We use advanced dehumidifiers that are complete with all the latest features. We will check everything, including the gutters, crawlspace, and your home’s ventilation, to identify the source of excessive moisture and provide a lasting solution. You should not let excessive indoor humidity take a toll on your comfort and health. Get Air Makers to help you reduce your indoor humidity levels now.