Check to make sure your air vents are open so you can keep air flowing throughout your home. Leave doors open so air can circulate between rooms.
During cold months, double-pane windows are particularly helpful in reducing the effects of cold air on interior surfaces. While these have a greater effect in the winter, new windows and doors can improve your home’s energy efficiency in any season. Check your dryer vent to make sure it’s sending warm, damp air outdoors. Make sure to run exhaust fans to pull moist air from inside, especially in the summer. Pay special attention to the rooms in your home that have more natural moisture such as your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. If your AC is running and the air still feels humid, call an HVAC professional for help. Cold air can hold less moisture, so your AC will remove moisture from the air it circulates. If you do notice your home has high levels of humidity, there are a few things you can do to get it back to optimal range.Īn efficient air conditioning system will reduce moisture in your home. If you notice that your eyes are watering excessively, you’re sneezing, or have a runny nose, it could be a sign of excess humidity in the air. Dramatic humidity changes can cause them to short circuit.īacterial spores, allergens, and dust mites can cause allergy flare-ups for you and your family. In fact, they can barely survive indoors in temperatures below 71 degrees Fahrenheit and in relative humidity below 45%.Įlectronics are susceptible to damage from moisture, which can corrode wires and circuitry. Check closets, draperies, and rugs that haven’t been moved in a while.ĭust mites are one of the most common causes of asthma in the United States. Bacteria also thrive in dark places with little air circulation. Keep an eye on places you know will have more air moisture than others (like the bathroom or basement) to catch it early. Too much humidity in your home can have effects both on your family and your possessions:īacteria thrive in warm, damp environments. You can pick them up inexpensively on Amazon or a local hardware store.
Pro tip: Get a hygrometer/humidity monitor (or two) to measure relative humidity levels in your home. If you’re noticing things feel too sticky during the summer, or there is excess condensation during the winter, your inside air might have too much moisture. Ideally, the humidity levels in your home should be between 40-55%. While you can’t avoid producing moisture, too much can affect the health of your home and your family. Your basement or crawl space can also bring in the humid air. Our regular everyday activities produce humidity - from doing laundry to washing dishes to showering or even breathing. The first thing to know about humidity in your home is that it’s natural.
If the air in your home is feeling sticky and humid, it could mean there are issues with your air conditioner, or something more. But when something goes wrong, even our house can feel like a steamy sauna. When the air systems in our home are all working fine, stepping inside is a well-deserved respite from the heat and humidity. Summer and fall in the south bring hot weather, pop-up storms, and humid air.