Americans in many parts of the country dislike humidity for the simple fact that it can make the hot weather feel even hotter. Humidity is the measurement of water vapor in the air, and excessive humidity sticks to the skin and makes the ambient temperature feel even higher than it actually is. During the summer, humidity can feel very oppressive, especially if you are dealing with high humidity inside your home.
Luckily, there are several methods you can use to keep your house dry during the humid summer months. If you rely on your air conditioning system to do all of the work, you may experience some relief from excessive humidity, but you are ultimately driving up your energy costs and causing excessive wear and tear to your air conditioning unit. Instead, try a few simple solutions that may help remedy your humidity problem without harming your air conditioning system.
Try using a dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers come in many varieties, from whole-home systems designed to maintain humidity at predetermined levels to portable units with tanks you need to empty on a regular basis. A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air and funnels it into a collection system. If you only need to lower the humidity in one room or one area of your home, then a portable dehumidifier system from a store can be the perfect solution, and one that won’t drive up your energy bills.
Limit water appliance usage
Whenever you run your washing machine, dishwasher, or other appliances that typically use hot water, these devices almost always release water vapor into the air inside your home. Try to limit your usage of these appliances as much as possible to see if this makes a difference in the humidity level inside your home.
Keep surfaces inside your home dry
It’s important to clean up thoroughly after cooking, washing dishes, and performing other household chores and tasks. Leaving water on the counter or around the sink during the summer can easily lead to increased humidity levels. Additionally, leaving water to collect in various places throughout your home is setting the stage for serious mold issues.
Improve the ventilation through your home
If the airflow through your home is a bit lacking, this can easily cause moisture to build up and raise the humidity level inside your home. Taking a shower, cooking in your kitchen, and various other household tasks can involve releasing water vapor into the air, and poor ventilation will cause this moisture to linger and raise the interior humidity level. Try placing fans in areas where you tend to use hot water most frequently. For example, if your bathroom has a ventilation fan, make sure you’re using it when you shower, or open a window to allow the steam to escape the room easily.
Move houseplants outside
While you might think that your houseplants would naturally drink up excess moisture from the air, the opposite is actually true. Your houseplants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and as they process it and release oxygen, they also release moisture into the air. Make sure you’re supplying your plants inside and outside with the appropriate amount of water, too. Overwatering your houseplants will add moisture to the air inside your home and overwatering the plants you have outside could lead to puddles forming around the foundation of your house.
Check your downspouts
Your home’s gutter system, downspouts included, should be pushing water away from your home. If you have a damaged or misaligned downspout that’s dumping water right next to your home, this can raise the humidity level around your home during the summer and lead to leaks and even flooding over time. If you spend time with lawncare and gardening over the summer, make sure you always turn off outdoor faucets completely after finishing with them, so they aren’t dripping while you’re not looking.
Have your air conditioning system inspected
One of the most commonly overlooked sources of humidity inside the home is the air conditioner drip pan and collection line. This part of your AC system collects water droplets from the air and funnels it outside of your home. Have a professional HVAC technician inspect the AC system’s drain line and collection pan, as they may be collecting moisture that’s evaporating into your home’s interior air.
If you try a few of these potential solutions this summer and still experience high humidity levels inside your home, the problem may be your home’s insulation or your air conditioning unit. In either case, you’re going to need professional help to fix the problem and return your home’s indoor humidity level to normal this summer. The team at Mr. Roof can help. Contact us for a free estimate, and we can help you improve the humidity level of your home this summer.
