Isn’t humidity great? It keeps our home’s from feeling too stuffy and makes our air conditioning feel blissful after a day outside. Although, just as too much heat is rarely a good thing, excess humidity can be even more detrimental to you and your home.

Since we can’t get rid of all humidity for you, we can at least help you reduce it in your home. Read on to learn how to get humidity under control

How Much Humidity Is in Your Home?

Humidity is rarely good. However, it keeps your indoor environment from feeling like the inside of an abandoned attic. Ideal indoor levels are between 30%-50%. Any higher and humidity issues can cause the following:

• Mildew smells
• Damp air
• Increased asthma symptoms
• Upper respiratory infections
• Mold
• Pest infestation
• Damage to electronics

Your thermostat should read your humidity level, but a couple of other ways to determine the amount of humidity in your home is through your walls and furniture. If any surfaces feel moist or look like they are collecting moisture, you have a humidity problem.

Too little humidity can actually cause damage to your home as well. With low moisture, wood flooring and furniture can warp, dry out, and crack.

Causes of Humidity

A properly sized air conditioner is essential to keeping humidity in check. The evaporator coil in your indoor unit pulls moisture from the air and condenses it, acting as a personal dehumidifier. Running your AC will reduce the humidity level, but if your unit isn’t correctly sized for your home, it won’t be able to handle humidity as well. That goes for systems that are too big and too small.

It’s no surprise that the moisture and heat from outside create a similar environment inside. Poor ventilation and insulation will allow the sticky air to sneak its way into your home. Weather sealing your windows and doors will keep outdoor humidity at bay and will also keep your AC’s cool air in the house.

Finally, your water-using appliances produce moisture. Activities like running the dishwasher, cooking, washing and drying clothes, and taking showers all contribute to your humidity level.

What Can You Do?

You can opt for a portable dehumidifier, but first, we suggest addressing problem areas in your home. If you’ve recently installed your air conditioner and are starting to notice humidity issues, have a professional technician check the size and installation of the system.

Installation issues can also cause your AC to malfunction. Once you have your air conditioning up and running, make sure to keep all that sweet, cool air inside with weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows.

Take care of any cracks in walls too, and when you take a shower, run the bathroom fan for a little while.

Willard Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical will always be here to advise you on the optimal indoor comfort experience. With our techs, humidity doesn’t stand a chance.