High humidity levels in your home during the summer can lead to discomfort, health issues, and damage to your property. Controlling humidity is essential for maintaining a comfortable living environment and protecting your home. This blog explores effective strategies to lower humidity in your home during the summer.

Understanding Humidity and its Effects

Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. During the summer, high outdoor humidity levels can infiltrate your home, making it feel warmer and stickier. High indoor humidity can lead to various issues, including:

• Discomfort: Excessive humidity makes it feel hotter than the actual temperature, causing discomfort and affecting sleep quality.
• Health Problems: High humidity promotes the growth of mold, mildew, and dust mites, which can trigger allergies and respiratory issues.
• Property Damage: Excess moisture can damage wooden furniture, floors, and walls, and can also cause paint to peel and wallpaper to warp.

Strategies to Control Indoor Humidity

Utilize Your Central Air Conditioning System

Air conditioning systems are one of the most effective ways to control indoor humidity. They not only cool the air but also remove excess moisture. Here's how to maximize their effectiveness:

• Regular Maintenance: Ensure your air conditioning system is well-maintained. Clean or replace filters regularly, and schedule annual professional maintenance to keep the system running efficiently.
• Proper Sizing: Make sure your air conditioner is appropriately sized for your home. An undersized unit will struggle to cool and dehumidify the space, while an oversized unit may cool the air too quickly without removing enough moisture.
• Thermostat Settings: Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature. Avoid setting it too low, as this can lead to excessive energy consumption without significant improvement in humidity control.

Install a Whole House Dehumidifier

In areas with consistently high humidity, air conditioning alone may not be sufficient to maintain comfortable humidity levels. A whole house dehumidifier can work in conjunction with your HVAC system to provide additional moisture removal. Benefits include:

• Consistent Humidity Control: Whole house dehumidifiers maintain a consistent humidity level throughout your home, improving comfort and indoor air quality.
• Energy Efficiency: By reducing the humidity, your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard, potentially lowering energy bills.
• Health and Comfort: Lower humidity levels reduce the risk of mold growth and improve overall comfort.

Utilize Ventilation Systems

Poor ventilation can trap humidity inside your home, exacerbating moisture problems. Proper ventilation helps expel humid air and brings in drier air from outside. Consider the following:

• Exhaust Fans: Install exhaust fans in high-moisture areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Use them while showering, cooking, or doing laundry to vent humid air outside.
• Whole House Ventilation: Consider installing a whole house ventilation system to improve air exchange throughout your home. Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are effective options for maintaining indoor air quality and humidity control.

Seal Windows and Doors

Leaky windows and doors can allow humid air to enter your home, raising indoor humidity levels. Sealing gaps and cracks around windows and doors prevents outdoor humidity from infiltrating your home. Tips include:

• Weatherstripping: Apply weatherstripping around doors and windows to create a tight seal.
• Caulking: Use caulk to seal any gaps or cracks in window frames and door jambs.
• Upgrading Windows: Consider upgrading to energy-efficient windows that provide better insulation and prevent humidity from entering.

Control Indoor Sources of Moisture

Certain activities can contribute to indoor humidity, making it challenging to maintain comfortable levels. Minimize indoor moisture sources to help control humidity. Strategies include:

• Limit Water Usage: Take shorter showers and use the bathroom exhaust fan. Fix any leaks in plumbing fixtures promptly.
• Dry Clothes Outside: If possible, dry clothes outside instead of using an indoor dryer. If you must use an indoor dryer, ensure it is vented to the outside.
• Use Houseplants Wisely: Some houseplants release moisture into the air. If humidity is a problem, consider reducing the number of plants or choosing species that require less water.

Install a Whole House Air Purification System

High humidity can worsen indoor air quality by promoting mold growth and the spread of allergens. Whole house air purification systems can help mitigate the effects of high humidity by improving indoor air quality. Features and benefits include:

• Advanced Filtration: These systems often include HEPA filters that capture mold spores, dust mites, and other allergens.
• UV Lights: Some systems incorporate UV lights to kill mold spores and bacteria, preventing them from spreading.
• Integrated Dehumidification: Many air purification systems include dehumidification functions, providing an additional layer of humidity control.

Use Portable Dehumidifiers

Specific areas of your home, such as basements or bathrooms, may have higher humidity levels than others. Portable dehumidifiers are an effective way to target high-humidity areas. Tips for use include:

• Proper Placement: Place the dehumidifier in the most humid areas, such as the basement, bathroom, or laundry room.
• Regular Maintenance: Empty the water reservoir regularly and clean the unit's filters to maintain its efficiency.
• Size and Capacity: Choose a dehumidifier with the appropriate capacity for the room size. Larger units can handle more moisture and are more effective in bigger spaces.

Regular monitoring and maintenance are crucial for controlling humidity levels in your home. Here are some tips:

Hygrometers measure indoor humidity levels. Place them in various rooms to monitor and ensure humidity levels stay between 30-50%, the recommended range for indoor comfort and health.

Inspect your home for signs of high humidity, such as condensation on windows, mold growth, or a musty odor. Address any issues promptly to prevent further problems.

Schedule regular maintenance for your HVAC system, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers. Professional inspections can identify potential issues and ensure your systems are working efficiently.

High humidity in your home during the summer can lead to discomfort, health issues, and property damage. By implementing the strategies outlined in this blog, you can effectively control humidity levels and create a more comfortable living environment. From using air conditioning systems and whole house dehumidifiers to ensuring proper ventilation and sealing windows and doors, there are numerous ways to combat high humidity. Regular monitoring and maintenance are also essential for long-term humidity control. By taking these steps, you can enjoy a cooler, more comfortable home all summer long, free from the negative effects of excessive moisture.