“Rain Rain GO AWAY”- High Humidity In The Home?

Many homes are faced with the problem of having TOO LITTLE humidity during the cold winter months. However, the summer months & endless rain can pose the exact opposite problem and leave your home with TOO MUCH humidity.

The problems with High Humidity:

When the temperatures warm up outside you can experience too much humidity in your home. Too much humidity can cause condensation on windows, wet stains on walls and ceilings, moldy bathrooms, musty odor, and/or clammy feel to the air. Rot and structural damage can also result from extended periods of high humidity in your home. And, especially in the South, it can draw pests. Bugs are always looking for water and condensation provides bugs with the water they need.

High humidity can be especially dangerous when combined with high temperatures, as it will disrupt the body’s ability to cool itself, which may lead to a heat stroke. People with heart problems or asthma are advised to be extremely careful during such conditions. Drier air provides comfort at higher temperatures, so homeowners can raise the setting on their central air conditioners thereby reducing their energy use.

High humidity can even trigger allergic reactions, contribute to ongoing allergies, and dust mite problems. High humidity makes it easier for molds to reproduce, and they can appear virtually anywhere, damaging whatever they grow upon. Mold spores pose a threat for allergy and asthma sufferers. Dust mites will thrive when the humidity is high. Present in almost every home, these tiny pests are yet another nuisance for people with allergies and asthma.

What are some of the things you can do to remedy this?

Investigate. If you suspect that the air in your home is too dry or too moist, the first thing to do is verify the facts. You can go to weather.com Indoor Humidity Meter and this will help you determine what is happening with the water vapor inside your home. You can invest in a small, inexpensive and easy-to-use instrument called a hygrometer (sometimes referred to as a humidity sensor or relative humidity indicator.) This can measure the humidity level in your house and confirm if you have too much or too little.

You can also call a Hoff Heating & A/C Professional to test, assess and remediate your indoor air quality problems. A host of tools are at your disposal to fix the problem so that you can enjoy your home safely and comfortably.

If humidity is too high:

• Install an Aprilaire whole house dehumidifier directly to your heating and cooling system or purchase individual units for rooms or areas in your home.
• Turn down or stop using your humidifier
• Vent areas that create moist air, like the shower or bathroom
• Use range and bathroom exhaust fans while cooking and bathing
• Cook with pans covered

• Take shorter showers with cooler water
• Install fresh air intake duct
• Reduce number of plants in your home
• Vent clothes drier to outside
• Add carpet – this will actually trap moisture
• Air conditioning – make sure your air conditioner is sized correctly. When it runs, it may run a little longer, but it will be pulling out moisture and will have an easier time cooling so it’s not costing you any more. (Size = one ton of air conditioning for every 600 square feet of indoor space)