Florida residents are very familiar with the concept of humidity. Outside levels can reach up to 90 percent and higher, making humidity an unavoidable and uncomfortable reality. However, something you may not know is that excess home humidity can be harmful to you and your house.
Why Is High Home Humidity So Bad?
Besides making you uncomfortable, high humidity can be damaging to your finances, property, and health.
- Blasting the air conditioning is often not effective enough to lower high humidity, and it will also cost you a lot of money to find a temperature that is comfortable.
- The moisture in the air can damage your wood fixtures and drywall in your home. Moisture can cause these to warp, rot and become moldy, and replacements can be expensive.
- When there is too much moisture, a home becomes a breeding ground for mold, which can cause sneezing, nasal congestion, throat irritation, coughing and watery eyes.
The humidity level in your home should be between 30 to 45 percent; anything higher than that can start to create damage. It is vital to keep your home humidity at a level of comfort and safety.
How You Can Lower Humidity Levels
Even though the effects of home humidity can be costly, there are many ways to decrease humidity levels without spending a fortune:
- Increase the air movement in your home. Air circulation helps to dry up standing water and can create cooling breezes.
- Turn on the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans when showering or cooking to eliminate the humidity that builds up from these activities.
- Check for leaks under bathroom and kitchen sinks, behind toilets and other places with plumbing pipes for leaks that can contribute to humidity.
- Run a house dehumidifier. The most effective way of decreasing the humidity levels in your house is to install whole-house dehumidifier.
- Dehumidifiers collect water from the air, lowering humidity levels drastically in your home. By choosing a dehumidifier appropriate for the size of your house, you can save money and your health.
If you are concerned about the humidity levels in your South Florida home, contact the Pompano Beach AC technicians at GMC Air Conditioning Services today!
