Is Humidity Driving You Crazy? How to Control Humidity in Your Home
Home humidity is something we all have to deal with in one way or another. No matter where you live, the amount of water moisture hanging around in the air is likely going to have an impact on you at some point.
Whether you’re faced with high humidity levels during the summer or low humidity during the winter, each end of the home humidity levels chart creates unique problems and challenges you’ll have to deal with. Especially if you live in a home without a humidifier or dehumidifier, you could find yourself dealing with a variety of issues, ranging from annoying static electricity to deadly mold.
If you’ve been having an issue maintaining ideal home humidity levels or you just want to know how to control humidity in your home, here’s a guide to assessing and establishing the optimal humidity level for your home.
Excessive humidity is arguably the more dangerous problem to have in your home. You can tell if you have excessive humidity in your home by doing the following;
Humidity levels which are too low can also cause you problems. Winter is the most common time of year that you’ll encounter this problem and it can lead to issues of its own as well. Static shocks from static electricity can be painful and annoying. You might also begin suffering from irritated sinuses, dry skin, nosebleeds, or even illness. Flu viruses can live longer in extremely low humidity.
The ideal humidity levels for a home are between 40 and 60 percent. If you need to raise the humidity in your home, the best way to do so is with a humidifier. The opposite of a dehumidifier, a humidifier pumps moisture into the air of your home to raise the humidity levels. Many homes come with a built-in humidifier, or you can purchase one for $120-$1,000.
You might also leave out a bucket of water or wet towels in front of your vents to naturally disperse water into the air. Cheaper, portable humidifiers are also available. These can often handle one or two rooms on their own and make the perfect choice for those in small apartments, for instance.
Ideal humidity levels are super important for the health of everyone in your home, but sometimes using a trained eye is necessary. If you want to have an experienced professional evaluate your HVAC unit, check your humidity, and/or help you resolve any issues, feel free to call and schedule an appointment with one of our many certified technicians today!
Whether you’re faced with high humidity levels during the summer or low humidity during the winter, each end of the home humidity levels chart creates unique problems and challenges you’ll have to deal with. Especially if you live in a home without a humidifier or dehumidifier, you could find yourself dealing with a variety of issues, ranging from annoying static electricity to deadly mold.
If you’ve been having an issue maintaining ideal home humidity levels or you just want to know how to control humidity in your home, here’s a guide to assessing and establishing the optimal humidity level for your home.
Signs of Excessive Humidity in Your Home
Excessive humidity is arguably the more dangerous problem to have in your home. You can tell if you have excessive humidity in your home by doing the following;
- Check your pipes, mirrors, basements and windows for any condensation buildup. Condensation is a natural occurrence on cold objects in the hot sun, but if it’s happening inside your home it’s a sign that the level of moisture in the air is so high it’s beginning to settle on cooler objects in your home.
- Look for wet stains on your ceiling, as well as creaky floorboards or peeling paint. All of these can be a sign of excessive humidity within the home.
- Examine your basements, laundry room, kitchen, bathrooms and anywhere there is open water being used. Sniff around for a thick, musky, foul odor. This is either mildew or full-blown mold, both harmful bacteria that thrive in high humidity.
- Pay close attention to the members of your household. If any of them are starting to experience asthma-like symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, chronic coughing, headaches, nausea, dizziness or confusion, they could be suffering from chronic mold inhalation. This is no laughing matter as it can lead to brain damage and/or death if not dealt with soon enough.
How Can You Lower Indoor Humidity?
1. Use a Dehumidifier
The best way to maintain indoor humidity control is with a dehumidifier, a device that sucks the water out of the air and drips it into a bucket that routinely needs to be emptied. A great way to maintain recommended humidity in a home, a whole house dehumidifier will cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000, depending on the size of your home. You might only need a single-room dehumidifier which could cost anywhere from $50 to $200.2. Reduce Moisture Output
Another solution of how to control indoor humidity that is too high is by lowering the amount of moisture getting into the air. You can accomplish this by taking shorter showers, air-drying your clothes, and/or doing only full loads of laundry at a time.3. Clean and Run Your Vents
Your bathroom, laundry room and kitchen vents and any open water sources are all great ways for taking control of home humidity.4. Identify and Fix Water Leaks
Obviously, water leaks will put excess moisture into the air. A big enough one can contribute a significant amount to your humidity problem, which is reason enough to get them fixed as soon as possible.Signs of Insufficient Humidity in Your Home
Humidity levels which are too low can also cause you problems. Winter is the most common time of year that you’ll encounter this problem and it can lead to issues of its own as well. Static shocks from static electricity can be painful and annoying. You might also begin suffering from irritated sinuses, dry skin, nosebleeds, or even illness. Flu viruses can live longer in extremely low humidity.
How Do You Control Humidity in Your Home if It’s Too Low?
The ideal humidity levels for a home are between 40 and 60 percent. If you need to raise the humidity in your home, the best way to do so is with a humidifier. The opposite of a dehumidifier, a humidifier pumps moisture into the air of your home to raise the humidity levels. Many homes come with a built-in humidifier, or you can purchase one for $120-$1,000.
You might also leave out a bucket of water or wet towels in front of your vents to naturally disperse water into the air. Cheaper, portable humidifiers are also available. These can often handle one or two rooms on their own and make the perfect choice for those in small apartments, for instance.
How to Control Humidity with the Professionals
Ideal humidity levels are super important for the health of everyone in your home, but sometimes using a trained eye is necessary. If you want to have an experienced professional evaluate your HVAC unit, check your humidity, and/or help you resolve any issues, feel free to call and schedule an appointment with one of our many certified technicians today!