It is essential that you know how to dehumidify a room. After all, damp air can cause a myriad of health problems. It is also a culprit of furniture and structural damages, especially if there’s prolonged exposure.
Warm areas typically suffer from high humidity. The higher the temperature, the higher the capacity of the air to carry water vapor. It is not a surprising thing that during summer, the air feels damp. But in the winter, it is somewhat dry.
Effects Of High Humidity
When the humidity is higher than 65%, it is already above the standard comfort levels.
You know that sticky, thick feeling you get when the air is heavy with humidity? It can make you uncomfortable and can make it hard to sleep. But there are other health effects of high humidity that you may not even be aware of. Excess moisture in the air can also allow mold and bacteria to grow in your home or on your property. High humidity can also increase the likelihood of respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies.
Of course, it causes damage to your house or building. It can impact the structural integrity of various materials, such as wood. It can warp hard floors, crack guitars, and even shrink some of your furniture. In fact, high humidity can lead to mold, mildew, and other air quality problems and can seriously affect your home’s indoor air quality.
What Causes High Humidity In Houses?
There are multiple reasons why your house is suffering from high humidity problems.
The first culprit is the climate. If it is hot, the capacity of air to carry water vapor increases. The hotter it is, the more humid it gets.
High humidity can be a problem in a number of situations, but especially in the summer months, as high temperatures can cause the air to become more saturated with water. This causes the air to become denser and harder to breathe.
The following can also contribute to the sudden increase in your home’s humidity:
- Showering – If you have ever taken a shower, you know that the water comes out in steam. Water vapor is a gas, and when you put that gas into the air, it increases how much water is in the air.
- Boiling water – When water boils, it turns into steam. As steam, it rises into the air. If it’s humid outside, the steam will collide with water droplets in the air. Instead of passing through them, the moisture will condense into water droplets. That’s why it’s humid after you boil water on the stove.
- Gas heaters – Gas heaters can increase humidity in your home. These devices use water to produce hot water, so the moisture in the air is converted into water vapor. It can make your home feel a bit more humid, particularly if you have an older gas heater, which is less efficient.
- Poor ventilation – Too many people think that ventilation is a cure-all for high humidity. This is not true. In fact, ventilation increases humidity. When you open a window to your house, you are letting ambient air inside. This air is saturated with water vapor from the outside air.
- Renovations – Does home renovations increase humidity? The answer to that question depends on where you live and the type of renovations you do. No matter what, they are going to have effects on the humidity in your home.
When you are thinking about doing renovations, you should think about its effects on your home’s humidity levels. It is essential to make sure that your house is properly dehumidified, as this will help you avoid mold and mildew. If you are thinking about renovations, it is a good time to buy a dehumidifier.
How To Know If Your Indoor Air Has High Humidity?
The first thing that you need to do is to ensure that your area has humidity issues. At this point, it would better if you use a hygrometer to measure the relative humidity of your space. With this device, you will be able to get accurate readings.
If the hygrometer tells you that the humidity in your space is too high or too low, then you must implement some measures to regulate it.
By the way, the recommended humidity levels in indoor spaces are around 45% to 60%. Some say that it could go as low as 35%, but it is not a suitable thing to consider, especially if your home has individuals with respiratory illnesses.
Why Are Basements Prone To High Humidity?
Basements tend to be very humid places for a variety of reasons, but the most common causes are high amounts of both water and human traffic in a small area. Water that enters your basement from the outside can be absorbed into the ground, but a concrete basement floor can’t absorb water, so the water remains in the basement.
When you combine this with the fact that, in the average household, there are about 50 people in a basement (according to the U.S. Census Bureau), it becomes pretty apparent why basements are so humid.
Basements are underground and relatively closed-off areas. Hence, they are naturally cool and humid year-round. People living in the Midwestern United States, especially in areas that see a lot of rain, should be especially concerned about high basement humidity.
However, the following things can also cause an abnormal increase in the humidity of your basement:
- Water leakages
- Flaws in landscaping
- Damaged or misplaced gutters
- Cracked concretes
- Poor ventilation
How To Dehumidify A Room
We all want to be comfortable while we are home, and unfortunately, the summer heat can get overwhelming. Luckily, you can dehumidify your room to make you feel more comfortable.
The Best Solution: Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is a device that removes excess moisture from the air, and it’s beneficial in many homes and offices. A dehumidifier is an appliance designed for removing moisture from the air in the process of dehumidification, using a refrigeration cycle. Still, the process is fairly similar to that of an air conditioner, which uses a refrigerant to cool the air. The water is captured in a collection tray or reservoir and can be emptied manually or automatically.
There are three main types of dehumidifiers: desiccant, refrigerant, and passive. Desiccant dehumidifiers work by drying the air to a certain humidity level. Oftentimes, this is accomplished by pulling air through a desiccant material. Refrigerant dehumidifiers work by cooling the air to a specific humidity level. Passive dehumidifiers work by heating the air to a certain humidity level.
Other Methods Of Removing Excess Humidity In A Room
- Improve ventilation – Ventilation is the process of changing or replacing air in any space to control temperature and ensure good indoor air quality (IAQ). Ventilation can be achieved through natural (through openings in a building’s structure) or mechanical processes. Opening a window in your house will allow fresh air in, helping to equalize the air pressure inside and outside.
- Take out your indoor plants – Plants generate moisture. And if you have a lot of them in your house, it is natural that they can significantly add to the dampness in the air.
- Repair water leakages – You can reduce the humidity in your home by fixing any water leaks. Water leaks can be a major cause of poor indoor air quality and can be challenging to detect. One of the most common places for a water leak to occur is in the toilet tank. The tank is a closed system, and water evaporates into the air. If too much water evaporates, the tank becomes empty, and the float valve will not refill the tank. This results in a water leak and can cause mold growth and high humidity levels.
- Don’t shower for too long – It’s not news that taking longer showers uses more water and electricity, but did you know taking shorter showers also helps reduce humidity? The truth is, when you take a more extended time in the shower, it increases the humidity of your home. The water can turn into water vapor, which is then absorbed by the air. The more you use water, the damper your air gets.
- Get solar air heaters – Solar air heaters are a great way to lower your environmental impact because they use the power of the sun to heat air and can reduce your energy bill. They also help to combat humidity levels and can be a big help in reducing colds and allergies. If you are looking for a way to lower humidity in your home, but don’t want to invest in an expensive AC system, then a solar air heater is an eco-friendly way to do it.
In a nutshell, a solar air heating system includes a solar collector, a solar storage tank, and a fan. As the sun’s rays hit the collector, the solar collector absorbs and stores the heat. The solar storage tank is attached to the solar collector. The fan blows air through the solar storage tank and into the room. It takes the hot air from the solar storage tank and mixes it with the cooler air in the room.