Guidelines for Managing the Humidity Level in Your Home

High humidity can be one of the most awful things to have in your Bay Area home. You are miserable, sweaty, and uncomfortable. These are a few ways you can control the humidity levels in your home.

Use an Air Conditioner

Air conditioners help in reduce indoor humidity by removing warm, humid air and introducing cooler air. You should make sure your air conditioner is maintained and tuned to keep humidity under control. You should also replace the air filters regularly and remove anything that is restricting airflow.

Use Ventilation Fans

Use ventilation fans when you are cooking or showering. Get in the habit of keeping them on a little longer even when you are done with your activities. This can go a long way in reducing indoor humidity.

Don’t Take Hot Showers

Hot showers equate to humid air. You should consider taking cooler showers even if you love your hot shower. However, you don’t need to switch to taking ice baths. You can always make the shower less steamy to help humidity levels in your house.

Fix Leaky Pipes

You don’t want to add moisture if you want to reduce humidity in your home. Leaking faucets and pipes do just that. Wrap exposed pipes in insulators and fix any leaks in the house. This will prevent condensation from forming. Wet spots, stained drywall, and irregular water bills are a few signs of leaks.

Keep Gutters Clean

Indoor water leaks are often caused by clogged gutters. This is terrible for humidity levels as well as the foundation of your homes. Make sure the gutters are kept clean at all times and the downspouts are extended and directed away from your home.

Don’t Dry Laundry Indoors

Most people use indoor drying racks in winter or simply toss the clothes in a dryer. However, in summers damp clothes tend to make the house more humid. You should consider getting an outside clothes line or drying rack. However, recheck your neighborhood bylaws to ensure there are no restrictions in place.

Invest in a Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers are one of the best ways to ensure that there is no indoor humidity in your place. They can fit inside your furnace air handler and take care of any excess air moisture passing through. The air that reaches you is cool and dry. The best part is you won’t need to use your air conditioner so frequently. It will help you reduce your cooling bills.

Keep Your House Plants Outside

Plants are beautiful and make any indoor space lively. However, they tend to release a fair share of moisture. You want to keep your house plants outside if your home has a humidity problem. You can also think about keeping them in a single well-ventilated location or room.

Consider Charcoal Briquettes

Charcoal briquettes are useful for a lot of things than barbecuing. They make a great dehumidification tool. Place a few charcoal briquettes in a receptacle and keep it in a central location. The briquettes will absorb all the moisture.

Crack Open Windows

Opening windows helps in reducing humidity levels to a great extent. However, don’t do this too often if you are running your air conditioner non-stop.