22 Jun Ways to Lower Humidity at Home

Ideal in-home humidity levels should hover around 45%. Anything under 30% is too dry, over 60% is too high. By keeping your home at a relative humidity level, you will alleviate the growth of mold in your home. Mold needs 24 to 48 hours of elevated moisture to begin growing so you shouldn’t worry if your kitchen becomes temporarily more humid while cooking, or the bathroom while taking a hot shower. As long as you bring the humidity back down into the recommended range, your home will have humidity control.

It’s not just bathing and cooking that can change the humidity of your home. Doing laundry, running the dishwasher, air drying clothes, houseplants with exposed soils, and even breathing bring additional moisture into the air. The best way to deal with this type of humidity is to keep your home thoroughly ventilated.  Exhaust fans can be especially helpful in humidity hot spots such as the kitchen or bathroom.

Homes built today are highly efficient and can trap moisture inside.  The best way to control this is through good ventilation, so make sure to open your airtight windows regularly.  In older homes, watch out for leaking pipes, taps, walls and roofs, and immediately fix any leaks that may be adding to the moisture and humidity levels in your home.

Your air conditioning unit goes a long way to taking out the moisture from the air while cooling, which is the perfect solution for high humidity on hot summer days.

High humidity levels can also be an issue during the winter in unheated spaces such as basements or rooms closed off from the rest of the home. If you notice condensation, you can install extra insulation or just keep the room warmer.  Natural light is also important since mold thrives in dark spaces.

With the humidity in Florida, opening the windows will not help lower the levels of humidity in your home. Only your air conditioner or a dedicated dehumidifier will work.  If your home’s relative humidity levels are regularly above 65%, a dehumidifier may be your best option.  A dehumidifier will require installation and be more expensive.

By maintaining a proper level of humidity inside your home, you will keep from spending too much money on your heating and cooling bills, and it can also keep you healthy.  Dry air leeches moisture from your skin and irritates your throat, sinuses, and eyes.  Low levels of humidity can also increase a person’s risk of becoming sick, catching an infection or a cold or the flu.

So, just as important as keeping a close eye on the temperature of your home, you should also keep a close eye on humidity levels, since they also play a key part in the hotness or coldness of your home.