What’s the Best Way to Control Humidity In My Home?
When it comes to the age-old argument of dry heat versus humid heat, we can attest that humidity combined with heat makes it feel much hotter! As coastal Alabama residents, we know this to be especially true. The high levels of humidity in the summer can make our homes feel muggy and almost unbearably hot. Fortunately, there are many available solutions to control humidity in your home. In this blog we cover a few of these options, as well as some extra information about humidity and its impact inside your home.
Humidity In Newer Builds
Homes which were built more recently tend to have bigger problems with humidity levels. Modern homes are better insulated and more tightly sealed. While this is beneficial for energy efficiency, it can trap humidity inside. This may lead to you feeling hotter or more ‘sticky’ inside your home. The more humidity you have in your home, the more moisture buildup you have. This can lead to a big problem with mold and mildew. For these reasons, it’s crucial to be careful with monitoring humidity if you own a newer home.
Too Little Humidity Can Still Cause Problems
If you own an older home, you may feel as though you’re in the clear! This is sadly not so. If you have too little humidity in your home, you can experience problems as well. Indoor air which is too dry can damage the wood inside your home, dry out your skin, and even damage electrical equipment. It’s all about finding the Goldilocks zone of “just right”. While we tend to struggle with too much humidity here in Alabama, it’s still valuable to know the pendulum swings both ways.
Exhaust Fans & Ventilation
One simple way to reduce humidity levels in your home is by making use of your exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom. Showers and cooking can release a lot of hot and humid air into your home, hence why most homes will have exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens! Be sure to turn these fans on in order to cut down on the humidity inside. You can also leave interior doors open throughout your home to encourage proper ventilation and flow of air throughout your space. Keeping interior doors closed can make it hard for your HVAC system to regulate humidity.
Clean And Repair
It’s time to call in the professionals! If there are any problems with your gutters or roof, water could be causing damage to your home. The more water in your home, the more problems with humidity you’ll have. Clogged gutters or loose shingles can result in water seeping into your attic, walls, foundation, and more. Don’t attempt to repair your roof or clean out your gutters on your own. Save yourself the time and risk by simply calling the local roofing or gutter cleaning professionals in your area.
Variable Speed System
Variable speed HVAC systems are the best! These systems are the leaders in keeping you cool, regulating humidity, and saving you money. Traditional air conditioners will run until they reach the set temperature, and then shut off completely, not allowing much room for balancing the humidity levels in your home. Variable speed systems can operate between 30% to 100% capacity. This means your system can run at a lower speed for longer cycles, which allows for more humidity to be removed from your home’s air.
This Is Not A Complete List
Remember, there are still many more ways to help manage the moisture levels within your home! If you’re interested in additional potential solutions, be sure to call Swinson Air Conditioning. We proudly provide HVAC services to communities on the Eastern Shore including Loxley, Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, and surrounding areas in coastal Alabama. Give us a call if you need help solving your humidity problem.
To learn more about our company or the services we offer, visit our website at https://swinsonac.com/ or call us at (251) 990-0998. Swinson Air Conditioning company is proudly an American Standard Customer Care Dealer.
