Humidity can be very annoying. The moisture makes it uncomfortable to sleep at night, can mess up your hair and it's surprisingly dangerous for your house. Long-term humidity inside your home creates extra moisture, which leads to all kinds of problems. It encourages rot and destruction of important building materials like wood or drywall. It can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which are difficult to remove and come with a list of their own problems. Humidity can also attract unwanted pests that infest your home.
To prevent all this, it's important to reduce humidity inside your home. Here are the top tips that can help out.
Check Your Plumbing for Any Unnoticed Leaks
Fast, large leaks are usually easy to detect, and homeowners are quick to address them. However, there are other types of leaks that can raise the humidity in your house while still being difficult to detect. Slower leaks that lead to moist pipes and growing moisture in your basement or crawlspace can still be very dangerous, especially if you don't realize they exist. Inspect your plumbing or arrange for a professional inspection to spot any subtle leaks and get them fixed fast.
Install a Dehumidifier
If your climate and house conspire together to create high humidity that's just too uncomfortable – and that may lead to health issues over time – the best solution is to install a dehumidifier. These devices are designed to filter out water vapor from the air. For single rooms or open spaces, there are standalone dehumidifiers that you can buy (these often need to be manually emptied or connected to a window). For whole house options, you can install a dehumidifier model directly into your HVAC system.
Create Less Humidity in the Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the worst places for humidity, due to all the hot water that's used there. When humidity lingers in a bathroom, it causes mildew and other problems. When using the bathroom for showers or baths, remember to turn on the fan to encourage air circulation and prevent humidity from lingering. You should also take shorter, colder showers. This may be difficult to develop as a habit, but it can save water, energy, and prevent humidity all at the same time.
Properly Ventilate Your House
Your air conditioner can only do so much, especially in a closed system like a house that doesn't always get much access to outdoor air. Make a difference by opening windows to encourage airflow, especially during the evening and at night when the air is cooler and humidity outside is lower. Always watch weather reports and air readings to ensure humidity outside is lower than humidity inside before you try this. You should also make sure your attic is properly vented so that moist, warm air that rises has a place to go instead of getting stuck and filling your attic with condensation.
Are you wondering what sort of humidity is present in your house, and whether or not it's a problem? You can find out! Call Guaranteed Heating & Cooling today to schedule an inspection and get expert analysis on humidity levels. We can discuss what parts of your home may be at risk, and what the best way to deal with humidity in your situation may be.
