10 Tips For Humid Summer Survival
The hot summer days in Pelham, AL, can also cause humidity levels to rise if the air contains additional moisture, and the increased humidity might make you feel sweaty, sticky and uncomfortable when you’re inside your home.
Poor indoor air quality caused by high humidity can additionally make you feel sick and more tired than usual and may even spawn mold growth. Fortunately, there are some proactive measures that you can take to try to reduce the humidity in your home and improve your indoor air quality.
1. Reduce Humidity with a Dehumidifier
The right dehumidifier can remove a lot of the excess moisture that raises humidity levels. A good dehumidifier should be able to reduce the relative humidity inside your home to an ideal range of 30 to 50 percent. A dehumidifier may be especially useful if anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma that may worsen with high humidity.
2. Use Exhaust Fans
Today’s best exhaust fans have built-in humidity sensors that provide automatic moisture control. Exhaust fans work especially well in bathrooms and kitchens, where humidity levels are often higher.
Turn on your exhaust fan in your bathroom while you’re showering and leave it on for a few minutes afterward to keep the humidity level under better control. It’s also a good idea to keep your exhaust fan running in your kitchen while you’re cooking or running the dishwasher.
3. Schedule HVAC Service
Your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems might be emitting dirt and pollen if they haven’t been cleaned in a while or require repairs. The proper services can allow more cool air to flow freer and help filter out the heat and moisture that worsens air quality. You won’t have to worry about servicing you HVAC systems yourself when you hire the professionals from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating to the job.
4. Have a Hygrometer Handy
A hygrometer is a small device that provides humidity level readings so that you can know how much moisture your indoor air contains throughout the day. By keeping track of your home’s humidity levels, you’ll have an easier time making certain adjustments to get the humidity to an ideal level if it gets too high or too low.
5. Look for Any Openings Around Doors and Windows
Unsealed openings around your home’s doors and windows might be letting in hot and humid air that negatively affects your indoor air quality. Look for any cracks, holes or damaged or misaligned weatherstripping material around doors and windows, since hot and humid air might be leaking through them. Caulking and new insulation material often work well in sealing off these types of openings.
6. Be Mindful When Opening Windows
Even though you don’t want a lot of outdoor air leaking into your home constantly, opening your windows at certain times can help you keep indoor humidity levels in check. It’s usually best to open windows at night when humidity levels are lower and run fans to help the cool refreshing air circulate better throughout the home. Another good time to open windows is when the outdoor humidity is below 50 percent.
7. Don’t Close off Rooms
Confined rooms with limited insulation can be hotbeds for humidity. By keeping the interior doors open in your home on humid days, you can promote better airflow and lower the moisture in the air. The humidity can get especially high in basements and laundry rooms, so it’s especially good to leave the doors to these rooms open. Don’t forget to open your closet doors to get the best effect.
8. Get Some of the Best Houseplants
Certain houseplants can work as natural dehumidifiers by absorbing moisture in the air and may help keep the inside of your home cool and comfortable throughout the season. Peace lilies and spider plants are among the best houseplants for reducing humidity and improving indoor air quality. Other great options include the peperomia, golden pothos and aloe vera plants.
9. Use Household Products to Reduce Moisture
Some of the items you may already have in your home can work well in lowering the humidity. Bowls filled with salt, baking soda or cat litter can be placed in different sections to absorb moisture in the air naturally. Charcoal briquettes can also be left around the home in bowls, trays or baskets. Try lowering the humidity even more by placing packets of silica gel inside drawers and closets.
10. Shorten Your Routines
By shortening the time that it takes to complete some of your daily routines, you might be able to lower your home’s humidity. Running your shower can emit more steam and make your indoor air more humid, and you can try to limit this effect by taking shorter showers. Using cooking methods that produce less steam and heat or opting for no-cook or takeout meals on humid days can also keep the inside of your home more comfortable. You may also consider shortening your washing and drying cycles if you need to do laundry on humid days.
The professionals from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating can provide the HVAC services that help keep the inside of your home comfortable throughout the entire year. We’re available 24/7 to serve you. We’re on time or you don’t pay a dime. Contact us today to schedule service with our friendly, knowledgeable professionals.
