In the summertime, suffering through high humidity when you’re outdoors is bad enough. Dealing with humidity in your home is the last thing you want during the hot months.
Not only does it make you uncomfortable, but humidity can cause mold growth, poor indoor air quality, and wood or structural damage. Plus, viruses and bacteria thrive in excess humidity, which can lead to health problems.
Wondering how you can lower your home’s humidity levels? Check out these 12 tips and tricks to help keep your house cool and comfortable, all summer long.
1. Run your AC
Turning on your AC in the summertime is a no-brainer, but your air conditioner doesn’t just blow cool air into your home. It also helps to remove humidity from the air. Running your AC earlier in the day before humidity has time to build up tends to be more beneficial for your home’s overall comfort.
2. Install a smart thermostat
Smart thermostats allow you to control your home’s temperature from anywhere using your phone. Many models can also automatically detect your home’s humidity level and adjust your AC when it’s too high.
3. Open windows and interior doors
Proper ventilation is key to reducing indoor humidity. Opening windows for brief periods throughout the day can help lower humidity significantly. In addition, keeping interior doors open between rooms promotes better air circulation. Just be sure not to leave windows open while your AC is running, or the cool air will get pulled outside.
4. Use fans
In addition to opening windows and doors, utilizing fans throughout your home also helps with ventilation. Ceiling fans, exhaust fans, and standing fans can all be used to encourage circulation and airflow. In rooms like your bathroom or kitchen, where water is used and accumulates frequently, exhaust fans can be especially helpful for lowering humidity.
5. Move plants outside
Although indoor plants can promote better air quality, they can also increase your home’s humidity by releasing moisture into the air. If you’re experiencing excess indoor humidity and have a lot of plants, try moving them outside.
6. Dry your laundry outdoors
Drying your clothes on racks indoors can cause moisture from your laundry to become trapped inside. Instead, try line drying your clothes outside. This can help lower both your home’s humidity and your energy bills by reducing your dryer and AC usage.
7. Wipe down surfaces
Water on surfaces like countertops and bathroom tile evaporates into the air, which can increase humidity. Ensure that you are wiping down these surfaces frequently to prevent this moisture from accumulating. Towels and floor mats should also be washed and dried regularly, as dampness from these items can cause excess humidity.
8. Take cold showers
Long, hot showers create steam, which can contribute significantly to indoor humidity. Taking cooler showers, even just a few degrees colder than usual, can help alleviate this. The shorter and colder the shower, the less moisture will accumulate in the air.
9. Replace your air filter
A clogged or dirty filter can prevent your AC from pulling humidity out of the air efficiently. Checking your air filter about once a month is best practice for ensuring optimal system performance. Depending on the type of filter and your climate, your filter should be changed about every 90 days.
10. Clean your gutters
Clogged gutters and overflow can cause indoor water leakage and damage, which leads to increased humidity levels. Ensure that your gutters are well maintained and cleaned regularly, with your downspout extended at least 6 feet away from your home.
11. Use a dehumidifier
While purchasing a dehumidifier for your home may be the most obvious solution, it can also be the most expensive. But if you’ve tried the above tips and are still experiencing high humidity, a dehumidifier is most likely your best option. Investing in an ENERGY STAR® unit can help you save money, as it consumes less energy than standard models.
12. Ask a professional
Sometimes, technical issues with your equipment can be the culprit. An HVAC technician can thoroughly examine your system and detect any problems that could be causing indoor humidity. They can also make expert recommendations for dehumidifiers and other solutions.
Looking for a professional to help with your home’s humidity? Send us a message at Expert HVAC Services. Since 2012, we’ve been providing affordable HVAC services like problem diagnosis, repair, and replacement for homes in the Central Ohio area. Contact us for an estimate today!
