Apart from being uncomfortable, excessive humidity can damage your home through mold and spores. To prevent discomfort and protect your home, there are a few dehumidification techniques you can try. Depending on the size of your living space and the amount of excess humidity, you will find one, or a combination of these suggestions, a good fit for your living space.
1. Control Moisture Sources
Seemingly simple factors can play a significant role in raising your home’s humidity levels. These include a leaky roof, a damp basement, improper ventilation, and having too many houseplants.
If your home’s basement has a dirt floor, one simple and easy-to-do fix can be highly helpful in controlling humidity levels. Laying plastic over the floor can create an effective moisture barrier. This also works if your home has a dirt crawl space. Fixing roof leaks also can decrease the amount of humidity in your house. You can achieve the same effect by giving some house plants away if you feel you have too many.
2. Install a Dehumidifier
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If you live in a multifamily complex, controlling the amount of humidity in your home can be a little more difficult. Factors that are out of your control, like the lifestyle choices of your neighbors, their heating sources, and the age of the building all affect the amount of humidity in your home.
In such instances, a dehumidifier can help lower the moisture in your living space by drawing water out of the air. Depending on the size of your home, a portable dehumidifier can be sufficient. A professionally installed dehumidifier is a better fit for a permanent residence. Having HVAC professionals install one in the dampest part of your house will significantly decrease humidity. Having your dehumidifier serviced regularly allows it to effectively lower the amount of moisture in your home.
3. Seal Windows and Install a Door Sweep
Weatherstripping windows keeps warm air inside during the winter and cold air inside during the summer, helping you to maintain a comfortable level of humidity in your house. As a plus, your home’s energy efficiency also improves. An important thing to look out for with this method is that the weatherstripping you use is capable of withstanding both wear and tear and changes in temperature and weather.
4. Get House Plants That Absorb Moisture
While having too many plants can unbalance the humidity levels in your home, having enough of the right type can help to minimize humidity. Xerophytes, peace lilies, and Boston ferns are ideal for absorbing water and decreasing moisture.
You might also want to think about where you position the plants. If there’s an area that’s markedly more humid than everywhere else in your house, putting a few plants there is a good call. Otherwise, go by the rule of distributing them equally all over your home.
Too much humidity can be troublesome but it’s something you can solve with a few steps to restore comfort to your home.
