Humidity is a part of life, especially in summer here on the east coast. While humidity outside can’t be avoided, humidity inside can be truly annoying. Not only does high humidity in your home prevent you from finding relief from the summer stickiness, but it could actually damage your home’s structure or surfaces, as well as have many other consequences. So how can you control this humidity and bring airborne moisture levels down? Turns out, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are five ways you can reduce your home’s humidity.
Set Your Fan to “Auto”
The fan in your HVAC system has two settings: “on” and “auto.” In the “on” position, the fan cycles air through your system even when your condenser isn’t running. When water condenses on your coil, the fan will blow air past this water, picking up moisture and sending it into your home, causing an increased humidity level. Only running your fan when your condenser is on prevents this problem.
Install a Whole-Home De-Humidifier
De-humidifiers are designed to remove moisture from the air and collect it in a tank or send it down a drain. A whole-home de-humidifier is a small unit that you install in your heating and air conditioning system that removes the moisture before temperature-treating the air, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of heated or cooled air without the excess humidity. However, this should only be used in extreme cases—most of the time your heater or air conditioner should be able to do the job.
Install Vapor Barrier
Do you have a crawl space under your home? Odds are it’s probably a dirt floor. Dirt floors absorb moisture, and due to the low air flow they can be hot beds for humid, stagnant air that can flow up into your house. Covering the floor with a plastic vapor barrier can keep this area dry and prevent humidity from making your home uncomfortable.
Choose Proper House Plants
Plants absorb more than sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air: they also remove moisture from the air and use it to stay healthy. Selecting plants that live in high-humidity climates can help balance your humidity levels, as they’ll pull more moisture from the air. Talk to a garden expert at your local home improvement store and they should be able to make some suggestions as to what kinds to get.
Check Your Dryer Vent
Your dryer creates a ton of humidity as it dries your clothes. In order to let your clothes actually dry, this means it has to cycle the hot, humid air out, which is often done through a vent at the back of your dryer. In most homes, this vent is usually connected to an outdoor spout, but a leaky or missing hose could mean the hot, sticky air is leaking into your home. Make sure your dryer hose is properly connected and leak-free and you should see an improvement in your in-home humidity.
If you’re struggling with in-home humidity and can’t figure out the cause, call a Virginia heating and air conditioning expert from Donmar Company Heating & Cooling today! Dial (703) 457-8676 to schedule your service appointment.