8 Ways to Reduce Indoor Humidity
Residents of Portsmouth, VA, are no strangers to heat. Summers around here can get terribly hot and humid. However, the humidity levels inside of your home shouldn’t feel like the dog days of July all year round.
Humidity traps heat and can make the indoor air quality of your home feel uncomfortably warm and muggy. It can also affect the integrity of your home’s structure.
Luckily, there are a few tricks that help bring down the humidity levels in your home. Find out eight things you can do to fix those high humidity levels for good.
How to Prevent Humidity Buildup
Preventative measures are the best way to avoid humidity problems. If your home is starting to become excessively humid, you should try the following tips.
1. Repair Leaks
Leaks in your plumbing system can cause excess moisture seepage. You should have your plumbing system inspected regularly and immediately address any leaks that you discover.
2. Lower Your Water Temperature
Humidity can build up in your bathroom due to the heavy use of hot water. Try lowering the water temperature during showers to create less steam.
3. Use Your Exhaust Fans
Your bathrooms and kitchen should each have an exhaust fan. Make sure to turn the fan on whenever you take a shower or cook.
If you don’t have an exhaust fan, look into getting one installed. An exhaust fan can improve your indoor air quality and prevent long-term structural damage due to excess moisture.
4. Use a Dehumidifier
Some parts of your home can be more susceptible to trapping moisture than others. You can push back on this effect by purchasing a dehumidifier and leaving it running. You can also have an HVAC professional install a whole-house dehumidifier with your HVAC system.
5. Move Houseplants Outside
Houseplants can add moisture to the air. Although this might be beneficial in dry weather, it can work against you when you’re trying to reduce indoor humidity.
Try moving your plants outdoors in the spring and summer to decrease their humidity output.
6. Don’t Hang-Dry Clothes Indoors
Hang-drying your laundry is eco-friendly and can help your clothes last longer. But it can also add more moisture to the air.
If you have high indoor humidity, you should hang your clothes outside to dry or use a dryer instead.
7. Clean Your Gutters
Water pooling up near your foundation or in your crawl space can impact the air quality in your home. Regularly maintaining and cleaning your gutters will keep the rain away from your foundation.
8. Keep the Air Flowing
Air that doesn’t circulate can become stagnant and lead to poor air quality and high humidity. In good weather, open the windows often to enjoy the fresh air.
You should also run your air conditioner regularly to improve airflow. Ask an HVAC professional to inspect your AC system to make sure it is contributing to excellent indoor air quality.
Why Do I Need to Fix My Indoor Humidity Problems?
Humid air can be uncomfortable, and it can also be unhealthy. Moisture can be a breeding ground for unpleasant organisms like mold, mildew, and fungus.
When humid air is trapped in your home, you are breathing in their spores right along with the humid air. This can cause health issues, especially for those who suffer from asthma and allergies.
Humidity can also create problems with the structural integrity of your home, especially in a city like Portsmouth, VA, where high humidity outside is already taking its toll on your home.
How Do I Know If My Home Has a Humidity Problem?
Most of the time, you will be able to feel excess humidity in your home because warm, moist air is uncomfortable.
Other than bodily discomfort, you might notice a few telltale signs of high humidity, such as:
- Moisture stains or discoloration on the walls and ceiling
- Furniture and cabinets that are damp to the touch
- Condensation on windows, mirrors, or pipes
- Persistent smells of mold and mildew growing in the home
- Droopy and listless house plants
If you are unsure about your home’s humidity levels, make sure to check with an HVAC professional. They can offer you insight into the state of your home’s humidity levels and offer solutions to any problems.
Contact Energy Pro Heating & Cooling in Portsmouth, VA
If your home is exhibiting signs of high humidity, you need an HVAC service that will fix it. The team at Energy Pro Heating & Cooling is here for you. Call us in Portsmouth, VA, to schedule your next HVAC service with us today.