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Friday, October 4, 2024

5 Tips for Reducing Humidity in the Home

Too much humidity in the home can cause a multitude of homeowner issues. Wood swelling and speedier rusting or oxidation of metals can age a home at an increased rate. Additionally, mold and mildew thrive in humid conditions and can lead to health problems for your family. Combat humidity in your home with the following five suggestions.

Use a Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is an appliance that can reduce humidity in the air. It’s especially effective in the basement, where musty odors, dampness, and mold most commonly occur. The machine works by taking in air from the humid room, removing the moisture from that air, then returning the dry air to the room. If your home is feeling humid and musty, contact your HVAC technician to evaluate your home for the potential installation of a whole-home dehumidifier.

Check Your Home’s Exterior

Your home’s exterior may be adding to your interior humidity more than you realize. All the precipitation you think is being swept down gutters and away from your house could be saturating your home with more moisture if you don’t keep your gutters clean. If the water isn’t properly routed away from your home’s foundation, then the water is seeping into the ground and possibly adding moisture to your basement or foundation, which can cause more humidity in the home from below.

Use Fans When Possible

Fans and the circulating air they create can help reduce humidity. Keep ceiling fans running in rooms that have them during particularly humid days. If you have a fan in the bathroom, turn it on during and after showers that create large amounts of moisture in the air. If your bathroom doesn’t have a ceiling exhaust fan, buy a box fan and use it after each shower to at least clear some of the heavy wet air.

Take Care With Houseplants

Houseplants have many positive benefits, but unfortunately, they also hold much moisture in the soil. To minimize that moisture, and to promote the health of your plants, avoid overwatering. Move resilient plants that can thrive outdoors during warmer weather. Sometimes, due to environment and sunlight, houseplants cannot survive outdoors. In this case, simply covering the exposed soil in the planters can keep water contained and not cause any harm to your plants.

Check for Leaky and Condensed Pipes

If your has a basement or any exposed pipes, such as pipes under sinks, check them for leaks that could drip moisture into your home. Fixing leaks can improve efficiency and cut your energy bills as well. If pipes aren’t properly insulated, they can produce excessive condensation and another source of moisture. Using pipe insulation foam or polyethylene foam pool noodles can protect your pipes and make sure condensation isn’t adding to your humidity woes.

Humidity in your home isn’t something you have to deal with in the long term. You deserve to be comfortable so that you can relax in your own space. By following the tips above, you can make sure humidity won’t be a problem any longer.


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