The amount of moisture in the air inside your home seriously impacts your comfort levels. It even affect the condition of your house and its furnishings. Some people enjoy a regular steam bath. But when it comes to mold and damp, learning how to lower your home humidity is critical to protect your property.

Why Lower Humidity Levels?

You may wonder why humidity even matters if the temperature in your home seems fine. However, the humidity in the air affects how we perceive temperatures. If you’re trying to save on heating bills this winter, additional humidity will make it feel colder. This means you’ll be tempted to tick that thermostat up another notch.

Another issue is the growth of mold and other pathogens. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mold growth occurs at relative humidity levels over 60 percent.

Mold spores irritate your lungs and eyes and triggers allergies. Mold eats away and destroy the finishes in your home. Left long enough, it even causes structural damage.

How to Lower Your Home Humidity

Lowering the humidity reading in your home air can be as easy as reducing how much is produced and finding ways to remove it.

Reduce hot water use

The first step to controlling humidity is to monitor the use of any appliances or fixtures that produce steam.

For example, shorten shower times to reduce the amount of steam. Switching to cold water for washing machines also helps.

Venting humid air

A simple and easy fix to lowering humidity levels is installing vent fans in your kitchen, bathrooms, and utility room. These fans will remove humid air and vent it outdoors.

Facilitate moisture removal

Your air conditioning system removes moisture from the air, but you can ensure that the overall humidity is reduced by ensuring your drip pans and condensate drain line are clean and free-flowing.

Prevent infiltration

Humid air can enter your home and excess water will find its way inside. Take a look outside and make sure that your gutters are draining away from your home’s exterior.

Outdoor landscaping also affects indoor humidity, so only use your irrigation when necessary. Planting beds should slope away from the building foundation.

Use moisture absorbers

There are many moisture absorption products on the market, but charcoal briquets are a fast and cheap way to lower your home humidity in a specific location. Undercabinet spaces in kitchens and baths often benefit from a simple coffee can filled with grilling charcoal to reduce humidity and odors.

Dealing with Serious Humidity

If you’ve tried these tricks and still find that the relatively humidity levels are 60 percent or more, consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier. Black mold, damp ceilings, and water stains aren’t trivial damage.

Make an appointment today with the experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Pleasantville for an estimate. They’ll install a dehumidifier that lowers moisture levels and ensures you and your home are safe and dry for years to come.