How Humidity Can Affect Your Home

8/2/2024 (Permalink)

This time of year, many in the Fayette County area are affected by the high humidity – the mugginess and discomfort. But no matter what the season, protecting your home from moisture and humidity is the key to living comfortably and preventing substantial damage.  

By maintaining the indoor humidity level of your home between 30 and 50 percent, you can experience significant benefits. Along with enjoying a preferred comfort level, a lower indoor humidity setting prevents excess moisture which has the destructive tendency to rot a home’s wood furniture, drywall and window frames. Other household items, like musical instruments, react adversely to dampness. Maintaining low humidity also reduces the chances of mold getting a foothold and uncontrollably spreading throughout your home. Additionally, dust mites, some allergens and pest infestations have less of a chance to thrive in a properly humidified environment.  

Each home handles humidity differently. Factors that influence how a house responds to humidity include the home’s construction and design, the airtightness of the home and if the builder installed vapor barriers. The following are some ways you can help reduce moisture and high humidity levels to protect your home:  

Insulate Crawl Spaces - Crawl spaces are notorious for containing excess moisture and high humidity levels. These damp environments are a breeding ground for mold colonies. Rotted joists and damage to the home’s structure can result. But before installing insulation in crawl spaces, any standing water will need to be removed and the ground dried before laying down a vapor barrier. 

Insulate the Basement - Many basements have problems with condensation which forms when moist air hits cold pipes, walls, and exposed ductwork. Adding insulation to these problem areas prevents the humid air from reacting to cooler surfaces.  

Run the Air Conditioner - Did you know that air conditioning units help to dehumidify because the refrigeration process naturally gets rid of some of the moisture in the air? That’s why you see them dripping when running. If you don’t have an AC unit, then run a fan. It won’t directly remove moisture, but a few hours a day of steady airflow will help lessen minor dampness.   

Run a Dehumidifier - Installing a dehumidifier will efficiently reduce humidity in high-moisture spaces like the basement. Mold grows in environments with humidity levels above 60 percent, so it should be set significantly lower than that. Monitor the dehumidifier; if the unit never shuts off, it is a sign of an air leak. 

Possible Underlying Problems   Possible factors contributing to moisture and high humidity in your home may be:  

• a leak in your plumbing system   
• water entering your home due to clogged gutters 
• cracked sealants around windows and drains   
• landscaping or pavement sloping toward the house   

So, the most important thing that needs to be done is to identify and stop the water source before water damage can spread. This may be difficult for you to do, so call in the professionals from SERVPRO of Fayette County to take care of it. Our skilled technicians have the tools needed to find water damage and its source. They’ll remove all excess moisture with advanced water extraction equipment and techniques, dry your property, and repair the source of the damage. This will give you peace of mind so that you can enjoy your home again.

Tracie "Dusty" Nichols

724-628-3022