In addition to the heat, the thick, sticky humidity that creeps in over the summer contributes to everyone’s tendency to feel drowsy. An excessive amount of moisture in your home can result in damage and foster the growth of potentially hazardous mold and mildew. It is not difficult at all to learn how to control moisture in the house and protect against the problems that it causes. This is the method that will ensure its complete removal.
The lack of humidity during the summer is not one of the many beautiful things about this season. Because of all the water vapor floating about in the air, your home will start to smell musty and musky. the encouraging developments You don’t have to go about your house feeling like you’re carrying a wet sponge since there are a variety of methods that can lessen the amount of wetness. Follow the strategies given in the below sections on how to control moisture in the house while living in Ontario.
In addition to making you miserable, high humidity is hazardous to both your health and your home
Because excessive humidity is harmful to both your health and your home, it is in everyone’s best interest for there to be as little of it as possible. Germs, viruses, and mold all thrive best in environments with high levels of humidity. Wooden furniture can warp, and valuables like photographs and original documents that are stored in an overly moist atmosphere run the risk of being destroyed.
Anyone who has a history of allergic reactions or a respiratory condition is additionally at risk of experiencing adverse effects. Another peculiar medical condition, perhaps? It may seem counterintuitive, but medication should never be stored in a restroom that has high humidity levels. This is because excessive moisture can cause the labels on prescription bottle medications to peel off.
Humidity and moisture levels within the building
The combination of moist air and surfaces in your home may lead to unpleasant odors, the formation of mold and mildew, and even damage to the paint, wallpaper, and furniture in your home. On the other hand, overly dry air might irritate your respiratory system, and this is a common negative consequence that can be caused by gas or electric furnaces. Because of this, it is essential to maintain constant humidity management and monitoring.
Any kind of weather has the potential to produce unusually humid air. When warm, moist air comes into contact with a cold surface, such as uninsulated cold water pipes, droplets of water are precipitated as a result of the condensation of moisture. In addition to these, additional everyday activities that involve the emission of water vapor into the environment include cooking, taking a shower or bath, drying out clothes, and washing dishes. This might make the atmosphere in your home rather unpleasant, particularly when it’s hot outside. During the winter, some heating equipment, such as space heaters that run on kerosene or unvented natural gas, can also cause a rise in the relative humidity of an interior room. Condensation may also form on any cold surfaces, including windows, walls, and doors, particularly in areas that lack enough insulation for the space.
Managing indoor humidity
As soon as you become aware of an accumulation of moisture, act promptly to remove it and investigate the cause of the problem. When it comes to avoiding condensation from forming, your best options are to have as few cold surfaces as possible and as little humidity as is humanly feasible.
Doors and windows with storm protection During the winter, it is possible to cut down on the number of cool surfaces by insulating the inside from the cold air that is found outside. In addition, the interior of the building is protected from the outside environment by windows that have either double or triple panes. These renovations will assist boost the energy efficiency of your house throughout the year, in addition to lowering the amount of moisture in the air.
Additionally, take note of the window dressings. In the winter, leaving the drapes and blinds open allows more warmth to enter the room through the windows. Although there is a possibility of condensation occurring to some degree, the buildup is less likely to take place as a result of the improved circulation.
Insulating the lines that carry cold water eliminates the need for a traditional cool surface in the summertime. You may insulate your pipes by using sleeves that are either straight or angled; simply slip them on and use duct tape to cover the joints and slots. You have the option of insulating your pipes.
Additional Managing Indoor Humidity Tips:
Additionally, your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system serve as humidity controllers. Dry heat, such as that produced by gas and electric furnaces, brings the humidity level down. The amount of moisture in the air drops as a result of the process of air conditioning, which makes the air cooler. Maintaining clean and open registers is one way to guarantee enough ventilation; another is having the ventilation system tested and serviced regularly to verify that it is operating correctly.
Increasing the energy efficiency of a property and preventing moist air from entering may be accomplished by weatherstripping and caulking. They decrease air exchange, which reduces moisture loss. Exhaust fans, dryer vents, and even air duct hoods that vent outdoors remove moisture from showering, washing, drying clothes, washing dishes, or cooking.
Dust, lint, grease, and any other kinds of pollutants might stop these instruments from working correctly if they aren’t kept clean, so make sure to keep them free of all of those things.
Other simple methods how to control moisture in the house reducing the amount of moisture in the air include the following:
- When you are cooking, cover the pots whenever it is possible
- keeping inner doors open to ensure appropriate ventilation
- Putting away logs for the fire
- Aquarium covers
If you are having trouble controlling the excessive humidity in your home using other methods, you may try using a dehumidifier either across the entire house or in certain rooms. This will remove moisture from the air. They function admirably in areas such as toilets, laundry rooms, basements, and any other place where there is little airflow or none at all.
Extra Factors Affecting the Humidity On How to control moisture in the house:
The presence of water droplets on a window is not always an indication that there is moisture present within the house. If you are aware of extra places where it might accumulate, you may be able to avoid problems with your property.
Mold in the house’s structural components can become more prevalent. If the attic does not have sufficient ventilation, which can lead to condensation. There is a chance that the house’s structural integrity will be compromised. Adequate ventilation must be provided, and that insulation is kept away from eave vents. If you have friends who live in the same town as you. You may ask them for advice on how to control moisture in the house.
Fireplaces that are seldom used and then walled off become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. If there isn’t any circulation of air within, condensation may form on the walls of the fireplace and seep into the masonry. Take precautions to prevent rain from getting into the fireplace while yet allowing for enough ventilation.
If your home contains a crawlspace, the relative humidity may be higher than normal due to the infiltration of ground moisture. It is possible to prevent moisture from entering your living space by installing a vapor barrier over any exposed ground and then covering it with a vapor barrier.
Get a dehumidifier set up
Dehumidifiers and ventilation systems that are controlled are two of the most effective instruments for eliminating moisture from a home. The steps involved are as follows: An existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. And ductwork in a home is paired with a whole-house dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air in the home.
Your entire home will be in better health as a result of this. Since there will be less likelihood of mold and bacteria forming in those areas. By installing a whole-house energy recovery ventilator (ERV) or heat recovery ventilator (HRV) to regulate ventilation. It may be possible to significantly enhance both the humidity levels and the quality of the air within the home. These mechanical devices use fans to ventilate the interior of the home. Removing stale air and ensuring that there is enough supply of fresh air.
Make an effort to use different equipment
Consider using a portable dehumidifier as an alternative to installing a fully integrated HVAC system. If you do not have the financial means to purchase such a system. On the other hand, they can function adequately within the (limited) confines of the region in which they are positioned. If your home has either a basement or a crawlspace, this is the ideal location for the installation of it. The laundry room and the bedroom are two of the more typical hiding places.
Install a programmable thermostat in your house
A thermostat can tell when there is too much humidity in your home. And will tell your air conditioner to turn on to remedy the problem if it is detected.
Choose an all-natural treatment option
To remove excess moisture from the air, a dehumidifier will often make use of crystals. It comes in a bucket that you can put in any room or area. So that it can create and maintain the correct degree of humidity throughout the space.
There are certain dehumidifiers that I am familiar with that are made from bamboo charcoal and do not include any chemicals or fragrances of any kind. You may go to the market to look for a more suitable alternative. Some dehumidifiers are helpful, but only in confined areas such as closets and laundry rooms.
Even little alterations might have a significant effect on how to control moisture in the house
To lower the amount of humidity in your house without making a large financial investment. Simply make a few simple yet effective changes. Put off lights and other heat-generating devices when not in use. Open windows when it is cold outside (ideally in the morning and at night). Turn on ceiling fans, or build an exhaust vent in the bathroom when not in use (which will come in handy during showers).
You might also fix any leaking faucets or pipes in your home. Or bring in some plants that thrive in moist situations, such as pothos, palms, and ferns. Wrapping them in pipe insulation will give a temporary fix for the leak.
FQA’s
What is a natural way to lower the humidity?
When there is too much moisture in your home, good ventilation can help a lot. Think about putting a fan in your kitchen or bathroom that vents to the outside. When you take a shower, you can also open the window. You can use cat litter or calcium chloride in bowls.
What naturally lowers humidity?
When there’s too much moisture in your home, good ventilation can help a lot. Consider putting a fan in your kitchen or bathroom that vents to the outside. When you shower, you can also open the window. Use cat litter or calcium chloride in bowls.
Why does my house feel humid?
The simple reason why your house feels humid is that hotter air holds more moisture than cooler air. But when hot air starts to cool down, it gets even muggier. So, most of the time, this is probably caused by too much humidity inside.
Why is the humidity in my house so high?
There are a lot of things that can cause high humidity in a house, but the main cause is poor ventilation. This means that air isn’t moving around enough, which makes the air in your house stagnant and humid. Too much air exchange with the outside is another big reason.
Conclusion
There are a lot of ways how to control moisture in the house and reduce humidity in your home without a dehumidifier. Such as by hanging clothes out to dry or putting charcoal in baskets. It’s important to remember that no one thing will have an immediate effect, except maybe an air conditioner.
You may have to try out a few different options before you find the right balance for your lifestyle and needs. But it will be worth it when your home is healthier and more comfortable.
