Simple Ways To Improve Your Home’s Humidity

The summer months in the south bring heat but you’ve probably also heard the saying, “it’s not the heat it’s the humidity”. There’s not much that we can do to prevent those warm, muggy days but there are ways you can keep the humidity out of your home.

1. Ventilation. Normal daily routines like taking a shower, boiling water and running the dryer can cause excess moisture and humidity in the air. Properly installed ventilation units are meant to pull the excess moisture out of the air and place it back outdoors where it belongs. Turn on the oven fan before you start boiling water or cooking that next steamy meal. In the bathroom it’s a good idea to run your overhead fan during your shower and even for 10 – 15 minutes after you’re done.
2. Dehumidifiers. An easy and effective way to prevent your home from building up too much moisture is by using a dehumidifier. If your entire home stays humid, which can often be monitored on your thermostat, a whole home dehumidifier may be the best option. Do you have that one extra room in your home that stays a little muggy? A single room dehumidifier is an inexpensive and effective option for keeping a single space cool and dry. Thornton’s Heating & Air is happy to provide you a quote on a dehumidifier for your home and explain the benefits of each unit.
3. Fix Leaks and Seal Cracks. Properly sealing cracks in your windows, walls and doorways can prevent hot humid air from getting in and keep the cool, dry air inside where it belongs. There are several ways to check to see if you have an air leak. In the evening shine a flashlight through a crack in your foundation. If you can see if the light shining through on the other side of the seal then you know there’s a leak. Another rule of thumb is if you can close your door or window on a dollar bill and pull it through with no problem, you may need to seal it up.
4. Under Your House. To prevent additional moisture build up under your house, which can rise up into your home, install a moisture barrier. It’s also recommended for building with crawl spaces to open your vents under your home in warm months in order to allow air to flow freely.
5. Limit Water Usage. Water in your home leads to humidity. Simple things like over watering your plants, hanging wet clothes to dry indoors and boiling water on the stove without a lid can lead to increased indoor moisture build up.

In addition to making you uncomfortable, moisture in your home can lead to major problems like mold, rot and mildew. If you’re still concerned about the humidity levels in your home, call Thornton’s Heating & Air to assess the problem and service your air conditioning unit. Our trained technicians will help you keep the cool air in and the hot, muggy air outside where it belongs. Call us today to get started!