How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home Without a Dehumidifier

how to decrease humidity in house

But high humidity can also have effects on you and the inhabitants of your house (think itchy skin and respiratory issues). A good tip is to always keep surfaces dry at all times, by wiping down kitchen and bathroom surfaces after use. This will prevent hot, evaporating water from accumulating in the air.

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Moving air is almost always better than stagnant air, especially where humidity is concerned. Opening windows can help a home feel less humid, even if the humidity is still quite high. And it also increases the chances of mold or fungus growing in your home. Here are 19 ways you can lower humidity in your home without purchasing a dehumidifier. Additionally, even if an HVAC or AC unit is the proper size, it can contribute to high humidity if it is not functioning properly.

Minimize tasks that will further increase humidity levels.

It’s hard to get comfortable when you breathe moist air, and it can be dangerous if you have respiratory problems. Luckily, there are several simple ways to lower humidity in your home. If you don’t have an AC unit, you can simply place standalone fans in individual rooms to circulate the air around.

Purchase the right dehumidifier

Humidity levels can be affected by simple activities that take place in a household every day. Cooking and running the dishwasher can add more water vapor to the air in the kitchen. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, you can simply run your air conditioner to remove moisture from the air. Air conditioners remove heat and moisture from the air, and that’s what cools your house down. While you may have a high electric bill if you run your AC all the time, it’s a great quick fix if your home feels too humid. This might seem counter-productive, especially during winter, but cooling the air will remove moisture in the air, and also helps to circulate air around the home.

A poor ventilation system may be to blame.

Wet soil around your home’s foundation or abutting against a crawl space contributes to indoor humidity. Placing a thick plastic sheet between the earth and your home or crawl space will eliminate the issue. Reducing humidity in your home may require a simple or multi-faceted solution, depending on how many different sources of moisture you have. Finding the source of moisture and taking appropriate corrective action will lower the humidity in your house to an acceptable level. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ideal humidity level for your home is between 30% – 50% when the outdoor temperature is above freezing. The high humidity can also cause a feeling of low energy, lethargy, and drowsiness.

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Keep air conditioner filters clean

Excess moisture in the air can lead to mold growth, musty odors, and compromised indoor air quality. Whole house systems are integrated into a home's existing heating and cooling system and ductwork. This makes every room in your home healthier, since there's less of a chance that mold and bacteria will grow. "Adding a whole home energy recovery ventilator or heat recovery ventilator to control ventilation can greatly help with humidity levels and indoor air quality," says Stack. These systems use fans to maintain a balanced airflow into the house while exhausting stale indoor air. Air conditioners (ACs) are vital in regulating indoor humidity, especially in areas with high humidity levels.

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Another way to reduce humidity in your home without a dehumidifier is to use a fan. There are a handful of ways to limit the amount of moisture in your home. Some solutions include simple life changes, like taking less hot showers, and other fixes require adding equipment to your home. In some cases, you might need professional assistance to deal with your excess moisture effectively. It seems there's nothing that can't be improved by decluttering your home, be it making your house look more expensive on a budget or trying to reduce humidity.

how to decrease humidity in house

"Especially after cooking or showering. Even better, use the trickle vents on windows or keep a quarter light open for background ventilation." It may be cold outside but maintaining good ventilation in all rooms is a natural yet crucial method to counteract humidity, ensuring the levels don't build up with nowhere to go. Here are the expert-approved methods of reducing humidity throughout your entire house, and an explanation of how and why they work.

Bonus Tips for Home Humidity Control

A supplemental room dehumidifier, such as the Vremi Dehumidifier for Medium Spaces and Basements, can make even the muggiest areas, such as basement bedrooms, feel more pleasant. From hanging clothes out to dry to baskets of charcoal, there are a lot of ways you can effectively reduce humidity in your home without needing a dehumidifier. If you don’t have air conditioning, then you can brush past this section. If you do, though, it is a great option to reduce indoor relative humidity. Increasing the humidity level indoors for a short period of time isn't difficult, but if low humidity is a constant problem, then the easiest solution is to invest in a whole-home humidifier.

And unfortunately, there are holes and leaks in your house’s thermal boundary—lots of them. A house has a few important jobs, but one of the most important is keeping the weather outside from getting inside. But depending on where you live, with Sealed you can get home upgrades that that fix these problems—and at no upfront cost, too. Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art.

We’ll put together a custom plan, hire expert contractors, and make sure the work gets done right. Plus, you’ll get the famous Sealed energy-savings guarantee if your house qualifies. Insulation is part of your house’s thermal envelope, and, when it’s working correctly, it helps keep air exchange to a minimum. 81% of people say their comfort at home improves after installing renewable-based heating systems, like heat pumps. In contrast, while replacing your air conditioning system might sound intimidating, there are convincing reasons to consider it. For that reason, ensure any rooms with high humidity are not fully carpeted, such as basements.

Generally, moisture flows from a highly concentrated region to a lowly concentrated region. In this case, moisture will likely flow from outside (high concentration) into your home (low concentration) if you don’t have a vapor barrier. Unfortunately, it might be challenging to notice minor leaks, especially if you’re a busy person who spends less time at home. However, you can look for signs like high water bills, wet spots, and stained walls. Rugs likely won’t be the main source of humidity in your home, but coupled with a few other ways to lower humidity, having them cleaned or replaced could have an impact.

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When it’s frigid outside, the EPA recommends a lower indoor humidity (15-30%) to avoid moisture condensing and adversely affecting your home. You can measure indoor humidity with an inexpensive, portable hygrometer. Read our reviews here, as these will help you find an affordable and accurate model. Excessive humidity levels can lead to heat stroke and pneumonia if you are continuously exposed to it, not to mention how irritable being hot and sweaty will make you. Dampness that sets into drywall or carpeting creates a breeding ground for dust mites and mold growth.

Fans work by circulating the air around the room, which helps to remove moisture from the air. When the weather is nice, open your windows and allow the fresh air to circulate through your home. Taking early steps to limit humidity in rooms using home ventilation or a dehumidifier will help to prevent these problems and reduce the chance of them returning. Excess humidity can cause significant damage to your home and health, so the less of it the better. "Mold, viruses, and bacteria all thrive in high humidity," says Brian Stack, the president of Stack Heating, Cooling and Electric.

Even if everything inside is ready to battle hot, humid air, your home’s exterior forces may be conspiring against you. To counteract this unintentional sabotage, start by cleaning your gutters. Gutters can lead to indoor humidity if they are clogged and result in leaks and high concentrations of humidity, or if the downspout faces into the home.

Even having a ceiling fan on the lowest setting can keep the airflow a bit more refreshing, especially in bedrooms when you are trying to sleep. They enhance home ventilation by keeping the air moving and preventing it from sitting stagnant in your home. Third, prioritize opening windows in areas of your house that are more likely to be humid, such as kitchens or bathrooms.

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