Did you know that around 45 million buildings in the US contain unhealthy levels of mold?
Not only are mold and mildew unsightly, but their presence can lead to serious health issues if left untreated.
So, what can you do to decrease the likelihood of mold growing in your home? The answer is fairly simple: remove humidity in your environment.
Keep reading for an overview of what causes humidity and a list of the best ways to reduce excess moisture and high humidity in a house, so you can breathe easy.
What Causes Humidity?
Before we talk about the different ways to help remove humidity in your home, it’s important to understand some of the main causes of excess moisture.
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air in your home. Often, you experience moisture problems in your home when the temperature outside starts to rise.
If you notice condensation forming on the windows, musty odors in your home, or a clammy feeling in the air, it’s likely that your moisture levels are too high. Condensation on the windows can be a sign that you need to reduce humidity inside your home. Leaving moisture build up-on your glass panes and the drip down it causes will eventually damage your sill and drywall, causing further damage to your windows.
Ideally, you want to keep the levels of humidity in your home between 30-50%. This helps reduce the risk of health issues due to the moisture in your house and it keeps you comfortable.
Unfortunately, some houses are more prone to humidity than others. The building materials used in your home’s construction, as well as the design and location of your home, can all contribute to higher levels of humidity.
How to Remove Humidity in Your Home
Now that you know more about humidity and why it forms in your home, let’s look at a few of the most effective ways to reduce that excess moisture. The good news is that most of these tips are easy (and cheap!) to do.
Limit Humidifier Use
Many people find that sleeping with a humidifier is more comfortable. It can make breathing at night a bit easier and even help reduce snoring.
However, if you already have high levels of humidity in your home, using a humidifier to add even more moisture is not helpful.
If you must use a humidifier while you sleep, remember to turn it off every morning once you wake up. Limiting the amount of time the humidifier is on can help keep humidity levels more normal.
And, if your humidity levels are already high, you may find that you don’t need to use your humidifier as often as you think.
Use a Dehumidifier
Another way you can counteract excess moisture in your home is to use a dehumidifier. You can either get a model that’s big enough for the whole house that installs into your HVAC unit or get a smaller one that’s used in individual rooms.
Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, collecting the water in an attached bin. If you use a small unit in specific rooms, you’ll only need to empty the water every so often so the device can keep working.
You might be surprised to see how much moisture is removed from your home!
Increase Ventilation By Using Fans
There are certain actions you take in your home every day that contribute to increased humidity levels.
Two of the most common actions are cooking and bathing.
Anytime you boil water on the stove, take a bath, or run the shower, you’re using hot water that releases steam – and extra moisture – into the air.
To help counteract that, use a fan so your home is properly ventilated.
If you don’t have a built-in stove fan or a fan in the bathroom,
you can bring in a small portable fan to help do the job.
Additionally, when you’re boiling water on the stove, consider covering your pans with lids, to help keep in the steam.
Weather Strip or Caulk Openings
Have you noticed small cracks or openings around your doors and windows? This is especially common in older homes.
While these small cracks aren’t often a big concern, they can let in warm, humid air from the outside, especially in warmer climates.
You can prevent this by using weather stripping or caulk to seal the openings in your home. This will keep you feeling more comfortable and reduce humidity levels quickly and efficiently.
Use Cooler Water
As mentioned above, hot showers and baths lead to increased moisture in your home. If you use slightly cooler water when bathing, this can help control humidity.
Of course, you still want to be comfortable. But even adjusting the water temperature by just a few degrees can do the trick.
If you want to make it even easier to do, you can adjust your water heater so that the maximum temperature is 120°F. This ensures that you’ll still be comfortable bathing while reducing the risk of extra moisture in the air.
And, you might just save a little on your water bill in the process. It’s a win-win!
Re-Evaluate the Size of Your AC Unit
It’s likely you’ve never given much thought to your AC unit. After all, if it’s working as it should, why would you?
However, it’s not all that uncommon for homes to have an oversized air conditioning unit installed during the initial build of the house.
In this case, the unit never runs long enough to remove excess humidity from the air. Instead, it turns off frequently because it’s too large for the space.
If this is true in your home, you might want to consider downgrading to a smaller, and ultimately more efficient unit.
Live a More Comfortable Life
Due to recent climate changes in the Pacific, San Diego has been experiencing heatwaves, causing extreme levels of humidity in the area and in people’s homes. Now that you know the causes of excess moisture and how to remove humidity in your home, you can start taking action to live more comfortably. Before you know it, high humidity in your home will be a thing of the past!
Check out our other informative articles for additional information about how to make your home more efficient.
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