There are few things as frustrating as living in a humid home, especially during the hot summer months. High levels of moisture in the air create uncomfortably muggy conditions that can also impact health, indoor air quality, the efficiency of your air conditioner and even the structural integrity of woodwork. Eliminating these issues as quickly as possible is imperative. Here’s a brief overview on how to detect excess moisture in your home’s air and how to go about reducing humidity.
Detecting and Reducing High Humidity Levels
It’s obvious that you’ve got a humidity problem when your house feels like a sauna, but what about when you’re unable to physically detect that extra moisture in the air? Some of the most common signs include a musty odor within the home, water stains on walls and ceilings, the growth of mold and mildew, and condensation on windows. Pay attention to your family member’s allergies as well, as they can be triggered by excess humidity.
Steps for Reducing Humidity
- Check thermostat settings: Keeping your fan setting in the “on” position causes air to pass over wet coils when the condenser cycles off. This redistributes humidity throughout the home. Instead, set the fan to “auto.”
- Ventilate properly: Venting kitchen and bathroom vents and fans outdoors stops excess moisture from being introduced to air throughout the home.
- Use vapor barriers: If you have dirt floors in the basement or crawl spaces, cover the ground with a plastic vapor barrier.
- Seal leaks: Air leaks and leaky ductwork should be promptly sealed, since these issues commonly result in humidity problems.
- Adjust routines: Boiling water on a stove or taking hot showers increases humidity. Try using a slow cooker, taking cooler showers or showering in the evening during the hot summer months.
Many Ohio homeowners have also found that investing in an air conditioner with a variable-speed air handler or a whole-house dehumidification system is a great for reducing humidity indoors.
Contact the experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning for more tips on reducing humidity.
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 humidity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Syaheir Azizan/Shutterstock”
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area