What's the Ideal Humidity Level in a Home?

Table Of Content

• Effects of High Humidity in Winter
• Try to keep surfaces dry
• How Does Relative Humidity Affect Condensation?
• How do you permanently remove humidity?
• What is a good level of humidity in a house?
• Fix Your Leaks
• The 20 Best Lawn Care Products for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
• Reducing Indoor Humidity When Outdoor Humidity Is High

Using a dehumidifier is good for drying clothes by removing excess moisture. Knowing how to reduce humidity in a house during winter months can help to prevent issues arising with condensation, mould and mildew. The ideal humidity level for the home depends on the personal preferences; different people will feel more comfortable at different humidity levels. However, a humidity level that falls between 30 to 50 percent is considered the most comfortable for the average person.

Effects of High Humidity in Winter

A vapor barrier is a material, such as plastic sheeting, installed in walls, ceilings, and floors to prevent moisture from seeping in from the outside. If you don’t have air conditioning, then you can brush past this section. If you do, though, it is a great option to reduce indoor relative humidity. If you don’t use it, you may simply want to seal your crawlspace so you don’t have to worry about moisture and uneven indoor temperatures. It costs at least $1,500 to seal a crawlspace, but it’s worth the cost if you constantly find rotten wood or if your home is moist.

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Try to keep surfaces dry

When the humidity is higher than 50 percent, you won’t just feel sticky and uncomfortable, the increased moisture in the air can lead to mold growth, and condensation on windows and toilet tanks. The water droplets that collect can eventually cause the rot and decay of materials in your home, such as flooring and structural elements. Having old insulation replaced, especially in the attic and basement, could be the key to eliminating excess moisture in the air. If it isn’t possible to completely replace the home’s insulation, caulking or sealing windows throughout the home can be another effective way to restore the home to a more ideal inside humidity level. ” It’s generally understood that poor insulation can allow uncomfortably cold air into a home during the winter, canceling out the efforts of a furnace. When outdoor humidity is high, that damp air can make its way inside via gaps not sealed by insulation.

How Does Relative Humidity Affect Condensation?

Opening windows is a good way to reduce humidity in a room and while it is not the most effective method, the window only needs to be open a small amount to make a difference. When you hear the term “biological growth,” you probably think of mold. My HVAC was serviced by Boothe’s Heating & Air, which charges $69 on average for a tuneup but also offers seasonal specials that could send the cost lower. The technician who worked on my home’s unit told me the growth can’t be called mold unless it’s tested for that. The growth is visible inside the unit as black spots on the white barcode stickers, blower motor wiring harness and the drain pan. Boiling a pot of water on the stove adds moisture to the air in a hurry, but never leave a pot or tea kettle on the burner unattended.

How do you permanently remove humidity?

Similarly, desiccants such as silica gel, charcoal and rock salt can work well to absorb some moisture from the air. Although these usually work at a slower rate, adding silica gel packets in damp areas can help to prevent condensation. Always air out or dry wet or damp bathroom towels and mats immediately after use, and never leave wet mats on the floor. These can become a source of humidity inside, and mold can easily develop in the fibres if it’s exposed to prolonged moisture.

When the weather is nice, open your windows and allow the fresh air to circulate through your home. Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years, having started her journey in interior journalism as part of the graduate program. She also has a first-class degree in Literature from Lancaster University. Josh Odmark, air quality expert explains that many home HVAC systems have two settings, one to draw in outside air for ventilation, and another to recirculate the existing air in your home. Ventilation can also help if your house smells musty as a result of high moisture levels. Insulating and draft-proofing tips are usually adopted in winter to keep your home warm, but sealing your home against outside humidity is ideal in summer too, says Josh Odmark, co-founder of IAQ.

While you may have a high electric bill if you run your AC all the time, it’s a great quick fix if your home feels too humid. If high temperatures accompany elevated outdoor humidity, air conditioning will pull out your home’s high humidity and heat, replacing it with cooler, drier air. Whether you have a window unit or a central air conditioning system, choose an EnergyStar-rated appliance sized correctly for the space you wish to cool and dehumidify.

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Suppose you’re in an area where outdoor humidity is consistently 60% or greater. In that case, those sauna-like conditions will inevitably infiltrate your home to some degree. A great option is to get in the habit of wiping down counters on a routine. Leaks in your home can add to the amount of moisture in your home. Homeowners can look for wall discoloration, bubbling paint or wallpaper, a dripping sound, or a musty smell.

Reducing Indoor Humidity When Outdoor Humidity Is High

Turn on a fan, open a window, and run the air conditioner after you take a shower to lower the humidity. By the way, there are definitely consequences to letting the humidity in your house get too high for too long. The most common problems are mold growth and condensation on windows—which can cause long-term damage to the property if not corrected. But high humidity can also have effects on you and the inhabitants of your house (think itchy skin and respiratory issues). And whatever the specific causes of your home’s humidity issues, there’s a straightforward two-step fix that will drastically reduce humidity and make your house feel comfortable and fresh year round.

Humidity that infiltrates wooden beams, doors, or joists can lead to swelling and rot. Dampness that sets into drywall or carpeting creates a breeding ground for dust mites and mold growth. Moisture can attack fine wood furnishings, floors, or walls, causing stains and damage.

The excess moisture seeps into the walls, floors, and ceilings, creating ideal living conditions for dust mists, mold, and mildew. If the high humidity continues for an extended period of time, it may also cause the paint or wallpaper to peel. On the other hand, blocking air from coming in or leaving the home can also be effective when your home isn’t full of humid air yet, but you’re anticipating high humidity levels outside on the forecast. Block the muggy air from getting in to begin with by weatherstripping, or sealing up potential entrances. Pay special attention to the spaces around your windows and doors and create air-tight seals there with a weatherstripping foam or insulation kit. A chore you should do at least twice annually, regardless of humidity, keeping your gutters clean may reduce humidity levels in your home.

"Some thermostats will tell you the humidity level on the display as an easy reference." High humidity levels indoors can cause damage to your floors, furniture, paint, and wallpaper. In addition, when you finish taking a hot shower or bath, ensure the room is well-ventilated to the outdoors. And if you’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen and releasing a lot of steam from your oven, pots or pans, switch on the exhaust fan immediately. Just avoid leaving them running for longer than needed as these tend to consume a lot of energy.

You can try a short-term solution like using a portable air conditioner or dehumidifier, but, really, that won’t fix the problem—it’ll just cover it up. The better, more permanent option is to upgrade your HVAC system and weatherize your home. Basically, it’s important to get humidity under control in your house. 81% of people say their comfort at home improves after installing renewable-based heating systems, like heat pumps. In fact, upgrading to a heat pump is one of the best ways to reduce your energy waste at home (see more ways to cut your carbon footprint here).

The relative humidity rises as the air temperature falls when there is a specific amount of moisture in the air. You may want to check the levels more often if you live in an area with high humidity or if you have a problem with mold or mildew in your home. If the level is too high, you may want to consider using a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity. If you have a combustion furnace, then it won’t affect the humidity at all since it’s only using the air inside of your house. You can even purchase packets (which are usually silica gel) and place them in the window sills. If your air conditioner filter is clean, it will keep humidity to a low because it won’t have to work as hard.

“Ensure your air conditioning unit is properly serviced, as it naturally removes moisture from the air as part of the cooling process,” Mitchell says. As the National Center for Healthy Housing explains, high moisture levels in a home can lead to a number of potentially serious health issues. These include asthma, allergies, and various other respiratory illnesses that are triggered by mold, dust mites, peeling lead paint, pests, and other issues often caused by high humidity levels. If you’ve noticed water leaks or stains, rotting woods, musty odors, rusting or corrosion, and excessive condensation, understanding how to lower humidity in a house is crucial. Continue reading to learn more about what causes high indoor humidity and how to get it under control.