Portland summers mean higher outdoor humidity levels, and that means that conditions inside your home can be affected too. Not only is a humid house extremely uncomfortable, but it can also cause serious damage to your property, compromise your health and cost you more in cooling expenses. Fortunately, managing this issue is easier than you might think. By learning how to detect and reduce indoor humidity, you can save yourself a lot of grief and cash this season.
Signs You Need to Reduce Indoor Humidity
In some cases, excessive indoor humidity levels may be obvious. If you ever feel like you’re living inside of a sauna, you probably already know that you have a problem. Sometimes, though, the issue is less apparent. Be on the look out for:
- Wood damage
- Water stains on walls and ceilings
- Mold and mildew
- Condensation on windows
- Allergy problems
How to Reduce Indoor Humidity
There are a number of ways to affordably lower humidity levels within your home. Following are a few suggestions:
- Assess ventilation – Clothes dryers, kitchen hoods, and bathroom fans should be vented outside.
- Adjust fan settings – Don’t leave your fan in the “on” position. By setting it to automatic, you’ll prevent re-humidifying your house as a result of air being blown over a wet coil when the condenser cycles off.
- Seal leaks – Air and duct leaks are a major contributing factor to excess humidity within the home. Take the time to find and seal off these leaks.
- Use vapor barriers – If the basement or other areas of your home have dirt floors, it’s a good idea to cover the earth with a plastic vapor barrier.
- Use a dehumidifier – Dehumidifiers are a great way to reduce moisture levels in specific areas of the house.
- Cook smarter – On humid days, it’s a good idea to avoid boiling water on your stove. Preparing meals with a slow cooker will result in much less evaporation and humidity.
For more useful tips on how to reduce indoor humidity, get in touch with the experts at Roth Heating & Cooling. We’re proud to serve the greater Portland area.
