Many consider August the most humid month of the year, making people sweat due to excess humidity. This is a year-round problem for most homeowners. People have issues with less airflow in their bathrooms, kitchen, and basements. High humidity peels away the wallpaper, encourages the growth of mildew and mold, and also might cause structural damage.
You can easily get rid of the excess moisture by implementing the right strategy to mitigate the situation. Read on to learn the tips that will help you to control the humidity in your home by lowering it.
1. Use Exhaust Fans
No wonder your kitchen and bathroom are the swampiest places in the entire house. This is because they are the most humid areas of your living space. Hence, it is wise to use exhaust fans in these rooms. This is more important when showering in the bathroom or cooking in the kitchen.
If you don’t use an exhaust fan during these times in your bathroom and kitchen, the moisture from there might spread throughout the whole house, making other areas damp and humid as well. Place the exhaust fan strategically so the entire moisture can be carried out, leaving the house with a controlled atmosphere.
2. Keep It Sealed Properly
You need to check for water and air leaks throughout the house; this is a crucial thing that you need to do. You can see if there is any draft coming in by inspecting the windows, walls, and doors. If you find any, you must seal them using caulk, insulation, or rubber cement. If there are excessive amounts of humidity in your home, it might cause your window to get condensed.
You must also check for water leaks or damp areas, particularly in the basement. Humidity levels across your home can be increased due to a leaky and damp basement. This is why, if any pipes are leaking in the basement, you need to get them fixed as soon as possible. You can also test the moisture level of your concrete by conducting a simple DIY using plastic sheeting.
3. Use Other Fans As Well
Excess indoor moisture creates a stuffy soggy feeling, and only proper ventilation can prevent it inside your house. To combat humidity, you can also use other fans and exhaust fans. Ceiling and stand fans are good too. These fans increase the airflow, which helps prevent the humidity from settling, but they cannot lower the moisture on their own.
4. Get A Good Dehumidifier
Getting a high-quality dehumidifier for your home is one of the best ways to lower your home’s humidity levels. The dehumidifier works by removing the moisture from the air in your home. Placing the dehumidifier in a damp basement will dry the area and prevent mildew and mold on the ceiling and walls.
You can take a room-by-room approach to control the humidity, but if you have the issue in multiple spaces, you can go for installing a whole-house dehumidifier. A whole house dehumidifier can cost between $100 to $300, with added installation charges. You will be required to take the services of a local HVAC contractor to install a whole-house dehumidifier properly.
5. Pay Attention To What’s In Your Home
It is not just a good housekeeping practice to pay attention to what you are bringing into your home. By being mindful of what you bring into your home, you are also doing a lot to control the humidity levels. If your basement and attic are filled with clutter, you are aiding moisture buildup. This is because air cannot flow freely in a place filled with clutter obstructing circulation.
And, it is not just clutter that causes issues. If you fill the corners of your home with indoor plants, you risk spiking humidity levels, no matter how beautiful they are. You will notice this more during winter when the windows usually remain closed.
6. Install An Air Conditioner
Air conditioners can lower humidity by collecting the moisture in their coils and leading it outside your home. You get dry and cool air as a result. A new HVAC system will set you back between $5000 to $1200. It is quite an investment, but it is totally worth it as it eliminates the humid, sticky air that causes you to sweat excessively during the summer.
7. Get Your Crawl Space Encapsulated
Moisture can use the crawl space in your home’s foundation to creep up to your home. If you want to prevent the issue, you need to use a vapor barrier to encapsulate your crawl space. You can encapsulate your crawl space for around $5,500. Your waterproofing contractor may suggest that you install a dehumidifier along with it for maximum effect.
If encapsulation is too expensive for you, you can also install fans inside your crawl space so that the ventilation can be improved. Moist air removal is aided by good ventilation, this way, it won’t seep in through the floors of your home.
8. Get Your Gutters Cleaned
Water is trapped when your gutters are clogged. Moisture directly enters your home through the fascia boards that get rotten when the water has nowhere to go. This directly puts your walls and ceilings at risk by raising the indoor humidity levels.
You need to clean your gutters, preferably twice a year to prevent any water from clogging. You can also hire a local gutter cleaner if the task seems too challenging for you. You can also install a gutter guard if you live on a property that has a lot of leafy trees.
Summing Up
Increased humidity in your home can cause a lot of discomforts, not to mention damage to your walls and ceilings. Hopefully the tips we have mentioned in the article will help you to get rid of the excess humidity in your home during the summer months. Here’s wishing you cool and crisp summer days going ahead.