High humidity can make a home uncomfortable and even unbearable during summer. Moisture in the air can also undermine indoor air quality and negatively impact your health. Let’s explore steps you can take to manage that humidity to a healthy and comfortable level.
1. Monitor Relative Humidity
Relative humidity (RH) is what you want to consider when it comes to comfort and health. RH indicates the level of water vapor in the air within the context of temperature. As the temperature rises, so does the air’s capacity for moisture. The summer months are when high humidity is the biggest concern. You want to keep RH below 60%, as this is when your home is more prone to mold, dust mites, and other air quality issues. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends 50% or below as the ideal for most people.
Monitor your home’s RH to understand better the challenges you face. The cheapest way to do this is with a hygrometer. There are manual and digital hygrometers that you can hang on a wall. You may also want to consider a smart thermostat with an integrated RH sensor. A smart thermostat that supports multiple remote sensors will provide even more accurate readings.
2. Schedule a Seasonal Cooling Tune-Up
Whether you have an air conditioner, heat pump, or ductless mini-split, it’s imperative to schedule routine maintenance. We recommend scheduling in early spring before you need to run your AC. During this service, we’ll inspect and clean all of your equipment.
The evaporator coil is particularly notable concerning humidity. This is the component that extracts heat energy from the air and transfers it to the refrigerant. When it’s operating well, it performs a significant amount of dehumidification as a byproduct. That extracted moisture drains out of your home through the condensate drainage line. Over time, dirt and microbial growth can build up on the coil. When that happens, the heat exchange and dehumidification are much less effective.
3. Run Your Air Conditioner
Your AC, heat pump, or mini-split is not a dedicated dehumidifier, but it does provide some dehumidification. Find the temperature at which you feel cool and comfortable. Program your smart thermostat to maintain that temperature as efficiently as possible. If you find you can’t achieve a good RH this way, there are options. We’ll explore some of them in the sections ahead.
4. Check Your HVAC Filter and Swap It Out as Needed
Central systems have at least one supply vent that needs a filter. It’s a good idea to use a MERV filter with the highest rating your system supports. That will help to improve air quality. Don’t use a higher rating than your system allows. That will restrict airflow, which will increase humidity in the system. It will also increase wear and tear on your AC and your operating costs.
It’s also important to check the filter regularly. Avoid swapping it out on a set schedule, such as every three months. Instead, check it at least monthly, and replace it as needed. That will usually be when you can see the dust building up on the outside of the filter.
5. Avoid Running Your System Fan
Unless your system provides the option to close the fresh air intake, you generally don’t want to run the fan. The system will run the fan automatically when the AC is on. The problem with putting the fan in on mode is that it will keep adding humidity without offsetting it. This is often true of whole-house fans, heat recovery ventilators (HRVs), and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), too.
If you have a system that can run without an influx of fresh air, then running the fan will help. Some systems offer a recirculation mode that just recycles the air in the home. Others will let you set the fresh air intake to closed, which the system will do automatically. In some cases, you may need to close the fresh air intake manually.
6. Lower RH Further With a Dehumidifier
If you can’t keep RH at 50% or below through cooling and ventilation, consider a dehumidifier. Portable dehumidifiers are often the most affordable option up front. They do require regular emptying, but you can easily move them into whichever rooms you’re using. If you prefer a solution that affects your entire home, consider a whole-house dehumidifier. It will cost more up front but less in the end. You’ll enjoy your target RH everywhere in the home. Your AC also won’t have to work as hard and will experience less wear and tear.
7. Run Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Bathrooms and kitchens are notable contributors to humidity in a home. In the kitchen, turn on your fans as soon as you start to prep. Keep them on until 10 minutes after you’ve turned off the stove and all other appliances. In the bathroom, turn the fans on before you turn on the shower or bath. Keep them running until all of the moisture is gone from the room.
8. Install a Sump Pump
If you get moisture inside your basement or crawl space, this can increase humidity in the home. A sump pump will help to avoid this by channeling that excess moisture outside your home. You should also be wary about moisture accumulating near your foundation. If you have that problem, you may need a landscape adjustment or foundation drains. Clogs in gutters can also increase humidity in a home.
9. Run Your Ceiling Fans
Humidity reduces air circulation. Adding air circulation reduces humidity by promoting evaporation. This is why it’s a great idea to have ceiling fans in all rooms where they’re practical and to run them all summer. The proper fan direction for summertime is counterclockwise. In rooms where ceiling fans aren’t practical, you can use floor-based air circulators instead.
10. Wait Until Night to Run Certain Appliances
Dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers can all add significant moisture to your air. To help mitigate this, run these appliances at night when it’s cooler and less humid.
11. Add Houseplants to Your Home Sparingly
One or several houseplants won’t make a big deal when it comes to RH, but a large number of them can. That’s because plants release moisture into the air. About 97% of what they take in, they emit as water vapor, so avoid overwatering as well.
12. Seal Your Home
If you live in an older home with cracks in the walls and foundation, it can cause intense humidity levels. Sealing the home will prevent that natural ventilation. You may also want to consider encapsulating your crawl space or waterproofing your basement.
Do You Need Help Lowering Humidity in Your Milwaukie Home?
3 Mountains Home Services serves homeowners in Milwaukie and throughout the surrounding areas. Our HVAC technicians install, replace, maintain, and repair many types of heating and cooling technologies. You can purchase your smart thermostat through us, and we can install and configure it.
Our electricians perform inspections, repairs, and HVAC installations. That includes electrical panels, surge protection, outlets, switches, indoor and outdoor lighting, and EV chargers. Our plumbers pipe and repipe gas, water, and sewer lines. We perform camera inspections, drain cleaning, excavations, and trenchless repairs. Our team also repairs and installs toilets, faucets, other fixtures, and tank and tankless water heaters. Contact us today with questions or to schedule a service appointment or on-site consultation.
