There is a reason why most people hate hot and humid weather. It’s uncomfortable and it’s harder for your body to cool down because your sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly.
But high humidity isn’t just bad for you, it’s bad for your home too. Humidity levels higher than 50% can favor the appearance of dust mites, mold and fungi, triggering allergies or other health problems.
Dust mites love to get into your mattress. And mold can damage the surfaces it grows on, which can be just about anything from ceilings, walls, and floors to even your clothes. Fungi prefer places where humidity is high, such as bathroom walls and windows.
The dehumidifiers and the Air conditioners s can extract moisture from the air, but there are other things you can do to keep them from running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Here are some tips from the experts at Consumer Reports and the US Department of Energy.
Simple things you can do to reduce humidity
Test the air. Even if it is not too hot, you may have a humidity problem in your home. For less than $ 20 you can buy a combo thermometer / humidistat that tells you if your humidity levels are high. There are also visual clues. “If you see unexpected condensation somewhere, that’s a sure sign that the humidity is too high,” says Misha Kollontai, project manager overseeing our dehumidifier tests. “If the humidity in your living spaces exceeds 70%, then it is worth identifying if there is an underlying problem.”
Check the ventilation duct. Make sure your clothes dryer is properly ventilating to the outside, checking that the system is sealed from the back to the outside. If it isn’t, the moisture from your wet clothes can escape into the indoor air. And remember to clean the ventilation duct regularly following the manufacturer’s instructions.
It works the same with all exhaust fans, such as those in the kitchen and bathroom. If possible, it is better to discharge it outdoors rather than redistributing humid air inside your home. Turn on the fan of your microwave or extractor hood every time you use the stove, especially if you cook something steaming like pasta. Run the bathroom fan when you shower and for at least 20 minutes afterward. And don’t forget to clean your microwave or range hood fan filters often to keep the fans in excellent working order. To remove dust from the outside of the bathroom fan, you can remove it with a soft brush.
Seal air leaks. Humid air from outside can seep around the window air conditioner or through doors and windows. To check for leaks, Consumer Reports has found that a simple stick of incense can work. If the smoke from the stick is blowing sideways when you hold it against windows, doors, and walls, there is air moving in and out of those areas. You can seal them with caulk or electrical tape.
Insulate the pipes. The Department of Energy (DOE) says that condensation can occur when there is a difference between the temperature of the water pipes and the humid air in your home . Wrapping pipes in insulation prevents condensation from forming on cold water pipes and adds moisture to your home. Insulation is cheap and fast and can be purchased at any home improvement store.
Be proactive. Dehumidifiers are notoriously loud, so while they can be used in basements, you may not want one in your living space. For example, if your bedroom seems humid on hot summer nights, Kollontai recommends “putting a dehumidifier there during the day to keep the relative humidity low, and then turning it off at night so it won’t keep you awake.”
Treat possible exterior problems. Make sure rainwater and runoff from gutters and downspouts flow away from the foundations of your house and not towards them. “Find out if moisture enters your home from an outside source through cracks,” says Kollontai. You may need a professional’s help to redirect and seal foundation cracks, but it’s worth the expense to reduce the humidity in your home and the damage it can cause.
Best Dehumidifiers From CR Tests
Consumer Reports tests dehumidifiers in three sizes, based on how much moisture they remove from the air. If your space is particularly humid, buy the largest size so you won’t have to empty it as often.
The best air conditioners from CR tests
Room air conditioners such as window and portable units also remove moisture from the air and of course so does the central air . For better cooling, match the window air conditioner size (in BTU) to the size of your room.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a just, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.