How to Control Indoor Humidity

When your home feels too hot for comfort, the cause may not be the summer heat or a problem with your AC. In many cases, the biggest issue during the summer months is indoor humidity. When the air inside your home is very humid, it makes you uncomfortably warm and sticky.

Conversely, a low humidity reading during the winter months can lead to dehydration, cracked wood, and colder indoor temperatures than expected because your home lacks moisture. Both situations can increase your energy consumption and your utility bills, which is why controlling the humidity level in your home during these instances is a must.

Steps to Take to Normalize Humidity Levels in Your Home

Whether you are trying to reduce humidity in your home during the summer or increase it during winter, you should always try to get the right level of moisture needed for your home to be comfortable. To help you do just that, here are some things you can do:

• Use a hygrometer to check humidity levels – Find out whether your home is too humid or too dry by using a hygrometer to measure your indoor humidity. Once you determine the humidity level in your home, you can easily take action and find a suitable remedy. If the level of moisture in your home is too low, using a humidifier might help. If it is too high, a dehumidifier is what you need.
• Install exhaust fans in very humid parts of your home – Not all the rooms in your home have the same level of moisture in them. Some will be more humid than others. To help reduce the humidity in these rooms, and to help combat the possibility of mold and mildew growth, installing exhaust fans that can remove excess moisture regularly in these rooms is a good idea. Some of the rooms where you should consider installing exhaust fans include bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and kitchens.
• For dry homes, houseplants inside can help – To make your home less dry and more humid during the winter, having plants inside your home can actually help. They can also help clean the air inside your home because they absorb carbon dioxide. To ensure that your plants survive indoors, make sure to place them in areas where they can get some sunlight, like near windows. Also, don’t forget to water them every day.

If your home is prone to either high humidity or dry air, you need to find a way to combat both problems. For solutions that can help address these issues, in Southern Maryland, the company to contact is Leitch Heating & Air Conditioning. In addition to handling your HVAC concerns, we also have solutions for your humidity and indoor air quality issues.

We can help increase the humidity in your home when it is too dry, reduce humidity with proper ventilation, and even help improve indoor air quality with a variety of solutions. We can even help you find out where you are using up too much energy in your home with a home energy evaluation. Contact us at 410-469-1363 so we can help you improve your home’s indoor air quality and comfort with our list of solutions.