What Are The Causes of Excess Humidity in Your Home?
Humidity is something that homeowners have to deal with as they use an HVAC system and create heat in their homes over the years. While humidity is normal there’s a delicate balance between too much and too little humidity and how it can affect your home and health.
The average home has healthy humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. So, if your thermostat is reading levels higher or lower than those percentages, you have a humidity problem on your hands.
Today, let’s talk about too much humidity in your home, where it comes from, and why you should strive to regain control over the air quality in your home.
What is Wrong With Too Much Humidity in Your Home?
Too much humidity leads to several problems within your home. Some of the biggest issues with humidity levels above 60 percent are:
- Mold and Mildew Growth
- Damaged Paint
- Peeling Wallpaper
- Rotting Wooden Flooring
- Rotting Furniture
- Damaged Walls
- Sleep Apnea
- Respiratory Problems
Common Causes of Excess Home Humidity
Unfortunately, excess humidity is a common problem that many homeowners avoid until it’s too late and the problems we mentioned above begin to become prevalent.
There are several causes behind an overly-humid house. Let’s dig into some of the most common reasons your home’s air is a little too moist.
Daily Activity
Everyday activities like hot showers, running your dryer, and cooking in your kitchen can lead to the humidity in your home rising.
If you notice that your home feels a little humid and stuffy, try to scale back on the activity with cooler showers or air drying your clothes outside. If the humidity decreases, you’ve solved your problem. However, if it persists, even with the AC running, it’s time to consider these more technical issues that could be your problem.
Leaks in Your Home
Moisture could be coming from leaks within your home’s systems. From cracks in your plumbing to leaks in your home’s structure inviting moisture and humid air into your home, these “small” issues can present a large comfort problem.
HVAC Problems
If you have an air conditioning system and still have high humidity while it runs, your HVAC unit itself may be suffering from some problems that create more condensation in your home than usual:
- Your unit may be too big for your home and cannot properly cycle to dehumidify your home
- Dirt, dust, and lack of maintenance are causing your HVAC system to perform poorly
- Frozen coils prevent your system from dehumidifying
Your Crawl Space
Most of the air that permeates the first floor of your home comes from your crawl space. If your crawl space is damp and you don’t already have protection like a fan system or vapor barrier, the crawl space is likely your home’s main source of moisture.
Control Your Home’s Humidity Today, With Advanced Home Comfort
If you have a moisture problem with your home’s air quality, it’s time to reach out to the professionals of Advanced Home Comfort. Our team of home health experts can thoroughly inspect your home for any issues with your insulation, HVAC system, crawl space, and more.
Trust us to offer you affordable lasting solutions that result in quality air and comfort. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with a member of our team.
