How to Combat Humidity in Your Home

We all look forward to spring after a long winter, don’t we? However, one downside to the spring is a lot of rain often comes with it. Too much of anything is not a good thing, and the same goes for rain. Heavy rain and thunderstorms can lead to all sorts of problems for homeowners, from flooding and mold growth to humidity and overworked HVAC systems.

Humidity is uncomfortable, plain and simple. With high humidity, your home’s air feels damp. The amount of moisture in the air affects your perception of how cold or warm you feel and how much heating or cooling you need to feel comfortable. Because the air is exceptionally moist, you can run into issues with mold and mildew in your home, which affects your clothes, furniture, electronics and other possessions. Bugs and dust mites also love humid conditions. High humidity can even affect your health, and it makes your air conditioner work harder to keep your home cool too. Unfortunately, older, inefficient systems may not handle the demands well.

When it comes to humidity in your home, watch for:

• Musty smells
• Mold
• Wet stains on the walls and ceilings from condensation
• Recurring dampness in certain areas
• A sticky or clammy feeling in the air
• Cracking or flaking paint
• Peeling wallpaper and/or
• Windows with condensation or frost.

On the flip side, when the air in your home is too dry, you may notice wood floors shrinking, cracks in furniture and leather, static electricity, difficulty breathing and/or nosebleeds. You can become more susceptible to respiratory viruses when your nasal passages dry out, and your skin and lips will also feel dry.

The key is to fight humidity in your home. Low humidity means less moisture in your home and less of these issues. Air conditioning goes a long way in reducing your home’s level of humidity.

Another great option is installing a dehumidifier in your home. It removes excess moisture from your house and helps prevent mold and mildew growth.

You want to keep the humidity level in your home somewhere between 40% and 50%. By removing excess moisture in the air, you prevent mold, mildew, bacteria and dust, which helps with allergies and respiratory issues.

You can use a portable dehumidifier in various areas of the house where excess moisture is most common, such as bathrooms, basements and crawl spaces. Dehumidifiers have various capacities, including small capacity for smaller spaces, medium capacity for medium to large spaces and large capacity for excessively wet areas.

You can also have a whole-house dehumidifier installed and integrated with your home’s current HVAC system. These dehumidifiers work for spaces up to 3,000 square feet. You can tie into existing return ductwork or add a new return duct specifically for it. For homeowners who suffer from allergies or asthma, you might want to consider a whole-house dehumidifier to improve your comfort and indoor air quality.

If your home has humidity issues, contact Keith Air Conditioning at 251-517-4437 to discuss options, including which Carrier dehumidifier is best for your family and home. Concerned about the cost? We offer financing options through Wells Fargo Financial National Bank. If you have one and it’s underperforming, the NATE-certified technicians at Keith Air can repair or service any make or model.