One of the best methods of preventing mold and mildew from overtaking your home is to eliminate the conditions that molds and mildew need to grow. Both of these problems need plenty of moisture to thrive, and high humidity in a home can create that damp environment. Therefore, if you monitor and control the humidity levels in your home, you can prevent mold or mildew growth. Here are some steps you can take to reduce indoor humidity:
- Turn on the bathroom ventilation fans and/or open a window when you’re taking a bath or shower.
- Turn on the ventilation fan in the kitchen or open a window when you’re cooking.
- Make sure that your home’s vents lead outdoors, if they do not, have them fixed to do so. Otherwise, you are simply moving your home’s humid air around.
- Hang damp clothes outside in a patio area until they are dry or place them directly in the dryer to keep the moisture from contributing to the humidity in your home.
- If you’re planning on replacing your air conditioner, consider the various models’ ability to reduce humidity before making a purchase. The air handler speed can affect humidity levels.
- Perform regular maintenance checks on your home for areas that are contributing moisture. Pipes and ducts that leak water or moisture need to be repaired to keep the problem from getting worse.
- While you may want to use natural ventilation and harness fresh outside air to help cool your home, pay attention to when windows are open. Close them during high-humidity times, and open them on nights when humidity is low. Keep them closed during times when allergies are particularly bad.
For more professional information on keeping your home’s humidity levels in the proper range, and other questions you may have about keeping your home comfortable and safe, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide quality HVAC services to Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home humidity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area