According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best indoor relative humidity falls between 30% and 50%. Some studies suggest 40% to 60% is a better range, however it seems that no matter who you ask, 60% seems to be the agreed-upon threshold.
If you find your home excessively humid, you’re not alone. High indoor humidity can be uncomfortable and lead to various problems, from mold growth and furniture damage to respiratory issues. Understanding why your home is so humid and knowing what to do about it can help you create a healthier and more comfortable living environment.
Causes of Excess Indoor Humidity
- Weather Conditions: During the summer months, warm, moist air can seep into your home, raising indoor humidity.
- Poor Ventilation: Homes with inadequate ventilation trap moist air inside, leading to high humidity.
- Household Activities: Everyday activities such as cooking, showering, and drying clothes indoors can contribute to higher humidity levels.
- Leaks and Water Damage: Leaking pipes, roofs, or basements can introduce moisture into your home. Water damage from floods or heavy rains can also lead to persistent humidity problems if not properly addressed.
- Inadequate Insulation: Poor insulation can allow outdoor humidity to enter your home. It can also cause condensation on windows and walls, adding to indoor moisture levels.
- Oversized or Inefficient AC System: An oversized AC system can cool your home too quickly without adequately removing moisture from the air. Similarly, an old or inefficient system may struggle to maintain optimal humidity levels.
What Can I Do About It?
- Improve Ventilation: Ensure your home has proper ventilation such as exhaust fans, especially in high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
- Use Dehumidifiers: Place dehumidifiers in areas with high humidity levels, such as basements and bedrooms to extract moisture from the air, making your home feel cooler and more comfortable.
- Fix Leaks and Water Issues: Address any leaks or water damage promptly. Use a sump pump if necessary to keep your basement dry.
- Optimize Your HVAC System: Regularly maintain your HVAC system to ensure it’s running efficiently. If your system is old or oversized, consider upgrading to a more efficient model that can better regulate humidity levels.
- Insulate Your Home: Ensure your windows, doors, and walls are well-insulated to prevent outdoor humidity from entering your home and maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
- Monitor Indoor Humidity: Use a hygrometer to monitor indoor humidity levels. Aim to keep humidity between 30% and 60%.
- Adopt Humidity-Reducing Habits: Simple changes in your daily routine can make a difference. Cover pots while cooking, take shorter showers, and avoid drying clothes indoors. These small adjustments can help reduce the amount of moisture in your home.
If you suspect your central AC system isn’t controlling indoor humidity levels as it once did, contact Zach Heating & Cooling today. Perhaps all that’s needed is an AC inspection and tune-up to make things right again. Or maybe you could benefit from one of our indoor air quality solutions. And if the culprit of your sleepless nights is a struggling, aging central air system – well, we can help with that, too. Contact us today and see all the ways we can make your home more comfortable.