7 Ways to Lower Your Home Humidity Levels!

Do you want to know how to lower your home’s humidity?

While the humidity in Boise and the surrounding Idaho areas is not nearly as intense as in other parts of the United States, when you feel the humidity, there is no denying it is uncomfortable. Humidity – the amount of moisture in the air – creates a sticky feeling in the summer and a wet cold in the winter.

Though the air tends to be drier in nature out west, humidity is never fun, and when it is inside your home, it can cause issues. Today, the team here at Top Shelf Heating & Cooling will share with you simple tips to reduce your home’s humidity level!

First, understanding Indoor Humidity:

A study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlights that maintaining indoor humidity levels between 30-50% can significantly improve air quality and comfort. Understanding indoor humidity is crucial for several reasons:

1. Health Benefits: Balanced indoor humidity can prevent respiratory issues and allergies by reducing excess moisture that fosters mold and dust mites.
2. Comfort: Proper indoor humidity ensures your air conditioner isn’t working overtime, preventing that muggy, humid air feeling.
3. Energy Efficiency: Managing humidity levels helps air conditioners run more efficiently, cutting down on energy bills.
4. Home Preservation: Controlling indoor humidity protects your home from damage caused by excess moisture, such as wood rot and peeling paint.

As we stated earlier, humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. Think of it like this: if the air were a sponge, high indoor humidity levels mean the sponge is soaked and can’t hold any more water. In your home, too much humidity can lead to mold growth and poor air circulation, making the air feel heavy and sticky.

Properly managing humidity in your home keeps that “sponge” just damp enough to be comfortable, preventing issues with mold or rust and keeping the air fresh.

7 Ways to Lower Indoor Humidity Levels

Below are the seven steps we recommend to help you lower humidity levels in your indoor spaces. While some you can do on your own, others may require the help of professionals like Top Shelf Heating!

1. Identifying High Indoor Humidity

A hygrometer is your go-to DIY tool for identifying high indoor humidity. It measures the moisture in the air, giving you a clear picture of your home’s indoor moisture levels. If you don’t have a hydrometer (who does), other signs like condensation on your windows are telltale signs of excess indoor moisture. Additionally, if you spot mold in corners or damp areas, it’s a clear indicator that you must remove moisture and improve ventilation. Other signs include must odors, peeling paint or wallpaper, and persistent moisture.

Using ventilation fans and a vapor barrier can help control these issues. Remember, keeping an eye on humidity is essential—no one wants their home to feel like a tropical rainforest unless they’re fans of unexpected indoor jungle adventures!

2. Reducing Humid Air with Ventilation

Boise isn’t known for humidity. However, it does exist during the summer. Once you identify humidity, the next step to help mitigate it is to use ventilation. Here are some simple steps to maximize ventilation to help reduce humidity:

1. Use Ventilation Fans: Installing ventilation fans in bathrooms and kitchens helps reduce moisture by circulating humid air out and bringing in fresh outdoor air.
2. Open Windows: On cool, dry days, opening windows allows outdoor air to flow in, balancing the humidity level inside your home and preventing moisture from condensing.
3. Run Your Air Conditioner: Air conditioners aren’t just for cooling; they also remove excess moisture from the indoor air. Regularly using your air conditioner can keep humidity levels in check and improve overall comfort.

Additionally, you can have the Topshelf Heating & Cooling team install a dehumidifier when your air conditioner isn’t enough. A dehumidifier can be a great backup since it helps reduce moisture in the air, especially in basements and other damp areas. Lastly, ensure your home has proper ventilation in attics and crawl spaces. This prevents warm, humid air from getting trapped and causing problems like mold growth.

3. Using Air Conditioning to Lower Humidity

Believe it or not, when it is cool out and you open your windows, you risk letting humidity into your house. Utilizing air conditioning to lower humidity is highly effective because it is designed to cool the air and remove excess moisture. As the humid air passes over the cool evaporator coils, moisture condenses and is drained away, lowering the humidity levels.

By running your air conditioner regularly, you prevent moisture buildup that can lead to mold and mildew. This keeps your home healthier and more comfortable, which is why many HVAC companies say to avoid opening windows. Air conditioners maintain a consistent indoor humidity level, which is essential for comfort and for preventing damage to your home. Balanced humidity levels protect wooden furniture, floors, and even electronics.

Also, using your air conditioner improves overall air circulation. This means fresher indoor air and fewer stagnant spots where moisture condenses. If you have a central air system, your air conditioner works with your furnace air handler to distribute cool, dehumidified air throughout your home. This makes the whole system more efficient in controlling humidity.

4. Dehumidifying Your Home

Dehumidifying your home means reducing the excess moisture in the air. Imagine stepping out of one of those hot showers and feeling like you’re still in a sauna—that’s humidity in your home. Here are the harmful effects of high humidity levels:

• Respiratory Issues: High humidity can aggravate asthma and allergies, making it hard to breathe.
• Mold and Mildew Growth: Excess humidity leads to mold and mildew, causing health problems and damaging your home.
• Dust Mites: Humid environments are perfect for dust mites, which can trigger allergic reactions.
• Discomfort: High humidity makes the air feel warmer than it is, making cool air less effective and leaving you sticky and uncomfortable.

Using dehumidifiers, ventilation fans, or even rock salt can help reduce humidity. Keeping humidity in check not only protects your home but also your health.

5. Reducing Indoor Humidity through Maintenance

Did you know that HVAC maintenance (or lack thereof) can help your humidity levels inside? From acting promptly to fix water leaks to regular use of exhaust fans, your maintenance and regular habits can impact humidity levels! Here are some simple tips to utilize:

1. Fix Indoor Water Leaks: Repairing indoor water leaks is crucial as they can raise the humidity level significantly. Even small leaks in plumbing can create condensation and contribute to higher indoor humidity.
2. Use Exhaust Fans: Running exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms helps remove humid air, especially after cooking or hot showers. This is particularly important in moisture-prone areas.
3. Avoid Drying Clothes Indoors: Drying clothes indoors releases moisture, increasing humidity levels. Instead, use a dryer or hang clothes outside.
4. Seal Windows and Doors: In humid climates, sealing windows and doors prevents humid outdoor air from entering your home, keeping indoor humidity levels more manageable.
5. Regular HVAC Maintenance: Keeping your HVAC system well-maintained ensures it’s effectively dehumidifying the air. Clean filters and serviced units perform better in controlling humidity.
6. Use a Dehumidifier: A dehumidifier is especially useful in moisture-prone areas like basements. It pulls excess moisture from the air, helping maintain a comfortable humidity level.
7. Proper Ventilation: Ensure your home is well-ventilated. Fresh air circulation prevents moisture buildup and keeps indoor air quality high.

6. Air Conditioning Maintenance for Optimal Humidity Control

Is your air conditioner working hard or hardly working to keep your home dry? Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and replacing filters, helps your AC perform better. Regular AC maintenance tips include:

• Clean & Replace Filters
• Check for Leaks
• Clear Debris Around the Unit Outside
• Use a Ventilation Fan
• Seal Crawl Spaces
• Check and Clean Interior Glass

While these DIY tips are helpful, there’s no substitute for professional maintenance. Pros can spot issues you might miss and ensure your system runs optimally, keeping your home’s humidity under control.

7. Professional Help for Humidity Issues

When it comes to tackling severe humidity issues, sometimes it’s best to call in the pros. For example, here at Topshelf Heating & Cooling of Idaho, we have helped countless homeowners with their humidity-increasing comfort and HVAC performance.

If you are unsure when to seek professional help, we always say the signs indicating to call someone are mold, stains, moisture, and warping. Let us explain below:

1. Persistent Mold Growth: If you notice mold in your living space or crawl space, it’s more than just a DIY job. Mold can affect your home’s structural integrity and your health. Professionals can identify the root cause and provide a comprehensive solution.
2. Stained Drywall: Stained or sagging drywall indicates significant moisture problems. This often means there’s a hidden leak or persistent humidity issue that needs professional attention to prevent further damage.
3. Crawl Space Moisture: A damp crawl space can lead to various issues, including structural damage and poor indoor air quality. Professionals can install vapor barriers and dehumidifiers to keep this area dry and maintain your home’s overall health.
4. Warping Interior Doors: If your interior doors are sticking or warping, it could be a sign of high humidity affecting your home’s structure. A professional can assess the situation and recommend the best action to protect your home.

Attempting DIY fixes for these issues can lead to more significant problems. Trusting professionals ensure humidity problems are addressed thoroughly and effectively, keeping your home safe and dry.

The Verdict –

Hopefully, you now know exactly what to do to prevent and decrease humidity inside your home. To summarize, effectively using your air conditioner, maintaining your HVAC systems, and proper ventilation are key to minimizing humidity.

When you need an expert in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, or anywhere in the Treasure Valley, let Topshelf Heating & Cooling be your go-to solution!