Do you feel like the humidity levels in your home are too high? If so, then it’s time for you to do something to lower your home’s humidity. Because not only are high levels of humidity uncomfortable, but they can also cause a number of issues.

High humidity can cause health problems such as allergies, sleep problems, and dehydration. Plus, humidity can cause your furniture and belongings to warp and it can even cause the growth of mold.

But, what can you do to lower the humidity levels in your home?

Check out this guide to learn how to lower indoor humidity.

What is Humidity?

First things first, what exactly do we mean when we say humidity? Many people associate humidity with heat, however, it’s important to know that while they often go hand in hand, they’re not the same thing.

While heat refers to the temperature, humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air.

When the air retains more water, the environment will feel humid. When the air retains less water, the environment will feel dry.

Typically, people feel the most comfortable in environments with low to medium humidity. If we were to rank humidity on a scale of 1 to 100, you would generally want the humidity levels of your home to fall between 45 and 55.

What Causes Humidity in the Home?

In order to understand how to lower the humidity levels in your home, you must first understand what causes high levels of humidity in a home.

In the simplest terms, high humidity occurs when moisture gets trapped in the home and can’t get out.

The main way to ensure that your home’s humidity levels are where you want them to be is through your AC system.

Apart from your AC system not properly controlling the humidity levels in your home, here are some other causes of high humidity:

Everyday Activities

You may be surprised to learn that our everyday activities have an effect on the moisture levels in our homes.

Activities like washing dishes, cooking, running the washing machine, sweating, taking a shower, and even breathing can all have an effect on humidity levels. This is especially the case if you have a big family.

Leaks

Leaks and cracks around your home can also have an effect on humidity levels.

Humidity and excess moisture can enter your home through cracked roof tiles, leaky pipes, or loose zinc joints.

Rising Damp

Rising damp is a rarer cause of high humidity in the home. However, it’s a much more serious one.

This happens when moisture from the ground rises through the masonry and bricks. Symptoms of rising damp that you should keep an eye out for include mold, flaky plaster, damp or wet patches on the walls, rotting window frames, or crawl space moisture.

If you suspect that there is a rising damp in your home, you should definitely call professionals for help.

Signs Your Home is Too Humid

You know what causes high humidity levels in your home, but how exactly are you supposed to know if your home is too humid?

To tell if your home’s humidity levels are too high, look for these signs:

Dehydration

As the humidity levels in our home rise, it becomes harder and harder for us to keep our bodies cool.

Because sweat doesn’t evaporate properly in humid air, our bodies release even more sweat to try and compensate.

Excessive sweating can lead to the loss of essential minerals and water, aka, dehydration. This can then result in fatigue, muscle cramps, respiratory problems, and more.

Sleep Issues

When humidity levels are too high, you’ll likely feel overheated. This can lead to restless sleep and can result in tossing and turning, congestion, snoring, and disruptive breathing patterns.

Allergies

Bacteria love moisture, which means that a humid house can result in bacteria growth in your moist floors and walls. This, in turn, can lead to allergies.

Beyond health problems, you can also look for signs of humidity in the structure of your home. Particularly, you should look for rust, oxidation, and rotting and deteriorating wood.

How to Lower Indoor Humidity

Once you’ve determined that the humidity levels in your home are too high, it’s time to focus on lowering them.

Here’s what you can do:

Invest in a Dehumidifier

Investing in a dehumidifier is one of the simplest solutions for lowering the humidity levels in your home.

As the name suggests, these devices literally suck out the moisture from the air.

However, this is best used as a temporary fix and there are other more permanent solutions you can turn to.

Run the AC

A well-functioning air conditioner essential acts as a dehumidifier for your home. As your AC unit cools your home, it also removes moisture from the air.

To make sure your AC unit is running as efficiently as possible, perform routine maintenance on it and clean out any clogged filters.

Ventilate

As we mentioned earlier, everyday activities can cause the humidity levels in your home to rise.

Therefore, you should frequently ventilate your home to make sure this excess moisture has a chance to escape.

Crack windows open in high-moisture areas and use ventilation fans to lower humidity levels.

Take Cooler Showers

Every once in a while, you should switch from a long, hot shower to a short, cool shower.

You can also use a low-flow showerhead or shower with a partially-opened tap to lower humidity levels.

Move Your Houseplants

Your houseplants can actually cause excess moisture in your home when water evaporates from their soil.

To help lower humidity levels, move your plants outside for a while.

Dry Your Clothes Outside

There’s a good chance your dryer is also causing excess moisture in your home.

To prevent excess moisture, hang your clothes outside on a clothesline. Not only will this help prevent excess humidity, but it also helps save the environment and lowers your energy bills.

Are You Ready to Lower Your Indoor Humidity Levels?

As you can see, there’s a lot that you can do to lower your indoor humidity levels. Before you know it, your home will be back to normal humidity levels and you’ll be feeling healthier.

If you liked this post, be sure to check back in for more home-related tips and tricks.

 

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