If your home is experiencing inside condensation, peeling paint, ghosting on walls or the air is feeling too dry, it may be time for home humidity control. Too much or too little moisture in your home’s air can cause many problems not only to your home but possibly your health as well. So addressing the warning signs and learning how to reduce the level of moisture can prevent any future risks. We gathered professionals to share their insights on what to look for and how to deal with moisture levels in your home. Whether you are accessing your home humidity levels in Vancouver, BC, or Pheonix, AZ, here are the top tips for home humidity control.
The size of your home AC matters
In extremely hot and humid climates, such as in South Louisiana, a home can be more humid because of an oversized air conditioner. When an AC unit’s capacity is much too large for a home, it cools too quickly and in short, ineffective cycles. This causes it to turn on and off frequently, allowing humidity to take hold. You see, the evaporator coil inside the AC helps act as a dehumidifier, by pulling moisture from the air. However, for that to happen the air passing through the unit needs to have enough time. If your system is turning on and off too often, then nothing is done about the humidity of the air entering your home. – Air Kare Air Conditioning & Heating
Be cautious of home condensation
Who likes taking hot steamy showers? Ever got out of the shower and your entire bathroom is foggy? Well, that is excessive moisture (condensation) on your mirrors, toilet, floors, and walls. Humidity should remain between 30-50 percent. Don’t forget to open a window, put the exhaust fan on, get a dehumidifier. If humidity and moisture are not controlled, eventually it will have an impact on your health and home’s structural integrity. Now wipe the fog off the mirror so you can see your smile again. – Inspect It Like A Woman
Install high energy savings windows
Professionally and properly installed high energy-saving replacement windows (U value -.26 or lower) will reduce the amount of airflow leakage in your home. During the winter months, your home stays warmer because the cold frigate air outside will not permeate into your home. Your gas or oil heater will heat up the air in your home and will lower the overall humidity and coldness. You may still get condensation on the inside of the windows, because of a vast temperature difference between inside the home temperature and outside the home temperature. The fact that any condensation is forming on the inside window means that very little heat from inside the house is escaping through your windows and there is a large temperature difference between inside and outside. That’s a good thing and proof that you have energy-efficient windows. – Tom Adams Windows and Carpets
Invest in a humidity control system
Most homeowners don’t pay much attention to the humidity level in their home. Often the humidistat is set once at the beginning of winter and not changed. This can lead to unwanted condensation in your home as the temperature outside drops. This condensation can damage materials in your home and even lead to mold. Luckily, there are options for homeowners, such as Ecobee’s “Frost Control” feature. Frost Control automatically adjusts your home’s humidity setpoint, relative to outside air temperature. This hassle-free control feature prevents condensation in your home while maintaining a comfortable humidity level. – AL’s Cooling & Heating
Strategic placement of house plants
House plants are also much more than a decorative attraction in a home. Plants actually provide an alternate function by helping keep breathing spaces fresh and healthy. Plants extract CO2 from the atmosphere while providing more oxygen for those living in the dwelling. This is the same function plants supply in helping replenish oxygen levels in the out of doors, which is why it is very important for everyone to maintain some type of plant life in the home. – Always Ready Repair
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