As you know, it can get very humid during summer here in the St. Louis area. And high humidity isn’t just a problem outside; it can build up in your home as well. Although air conditioners do help dehumidify your home’s air to a certain extent, sometimes that isn’t enough. So today we’re going to talk about how to reduce indoor humidity levels in your home!
Why is it necessary to reduce indoor humidity?
When your home has high humidity levels, there is a lot of moisture in the air. This creates an environment that makes it easy for mold, dust mites, and other allergens to thrive, which can trigger allergic reactions in many people. In addition, the moisture in the air can cause water damage to your furniture, walls, and floors.
How to reduce indoor humidity levels
- Use your bathroom ventilation fans. When your bathroom mirror fogs up during showers, that’s due to the humid air that’s released from the hot water. By using your ventilation fans, you can remove that humid air from your bathroom before it travels to the surrounding rooms.
- Use your oven’s exhaust hood while cooking. Humid air is often released into the kitchen while you’re using your stove to cook. By turning on the exhaust fan over your oven, you can remove that humidity so that it doesn’t raise the rest of your home’s humidity levels.
- Cover pots and pans when boiling water. Just as hot water releases humid air when you shower, it does the same thing when you’re using hot water to cook. By keeping your pots and pans covered, you can contain much of that humid air.
- Use moisture-producing appliances at night. Any of your appliances that use hot water will release moist air that can raise your home’s humidity levels. That’s why it’s a good idea to wait to use appliances like your dishwasher and washing machine until the nighttime when humidity levels are generally lower.
- Turn your thermostat fan setting to “auto.” Although there are some advantages to running your AC fan at all times, you also run the risk of raising your home’s humidity levels because air will be constantly blown over your system’s moist evaporator coils. By using the auto setting, your fan will only blow over those coils when your air conditioner is in a cooling (and dehumidifying) cycle.
- Install a whole-house dehumidifier. The best way to have complete control over your home’s humidity levels is to install a whole-house dehumidifier. This device attaches to your home’s ductwork and constantly monitors your air’s humidity levels and removes moisture from the air whenever necessary.
If you have any questions about how to reduce indoor humidity, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles, MO, air conditioning contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Ballwin, Chesterfield, and Clarkson Valley.
