From reducing the energy needed to cool your home to protecting against mold and mildew, there are a number of good reasons to lower the humidity levels inside. To improve your indoor air, check out these tips to reduce humidity at home.
Fans Help Reduce Humidity
One opportunity to reduce humidity is during your shower. Turn on the bathroom fan while you shower and leave it running for 10 to 15 minutes after you’re done. You can also close the bathroom door and open a window while showering. The humidity will disperse outside rather than into your indoor air. Use ventilation fans when cooking as well. The fan will pull the excess moisture out of your home.
Take Cooler, Shorter Showers
Shorter, cooler showers help to reduce your utility bills and excessive indoor humidity. The hotter the shower, the more steam it creates, so lowering the temperature decreases humidity levels. You can also lower humidity in your bathroom by running the cold water first when filling the bathtub and adding hot water towards the end. This reduces both the moisture in the air and the hot water you’ll use for bathing.
When Renovating, Choose Hard Floors
Carpets look nice in the bedroom, but they’re notorious for trapping humidity and particles. The carpet fibers and the padding beneath work like a sponge, absorbing and holding moisture from the atmosphere. Damp conditions under the flooring are conducive to mold growth.
If you have home renovation plans, replace some or all of your carpets with hard flooring. Not only are hard floors easier to clean, but they will noticeably improve your indoor air.
Have Your AC Serviced to Help Reduce Humidity
One of the easiest ways to reduce humidity in your home is to make sure your air conditioner is operating at peak performance. Schedule regular maintenance to have your air conditioner cleaned and assessed by a professional. Dusty fans and dirty filters worsen humidity levels and compromise the cleanliness of your air.
Restrict Air Drying of Clothing to Outdoors
While it does save energy, don’t hang clothes inside to dry if you have issues with humidity in your home. The moisture that evaporates from your clothing goes directly into your indoor environment. Hang your laundry outdoors or dry it in the clothes dryer.
Take Steps to Reduce Humidity
High indoor humidity can damage the structure of your home and cause poor indoor air quality, which affects your family’s well-being. Keep your showers short and cool and always use fans to ventilate while showering or cooking.
Restrict line-drying clothing to the outdoors to avoid adding to indoor humidity. Make sure your air conditioner is functioning well, and when making improvements, install hard flooring instead of carpets to improve the air quality in your home.
Lakeland Home Inspection Service provides home inspection services in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and the surrounding areas. Contact us to book an inspection.