Record-breaking heat and humidity predicted for tropics this summer Berkeley

Table Of Content

• Does homeowners insurance cover AC units? Here’s how to pay for a replacement (if your insurance won’t)
• Use indoor humidity gauges to determine how much moisture is in the air.
• How to prevent high humidity in your home
• These 6 Signs Tell You It’s Time to Replace Your House’s Siding ASAP
• Ways to Use Dehumidifier Water Around the House
• How humidity damages your home — and how to fight it

In hot, humid climates, the potential for moisture accumulation increases with decreasing interior temperatures. Hot showers, while relaxing, can introduce a lot of humidity into an environment. Colder showers will decrease the amount of steam in the air and thus, humidity levels overall.

Does homeowners insurance cover AC units? Here’s how to pay for a replacement (if your insurance won’t)

Even before guests began occupying the new guestroom tower of the hotel in Honolulu in 1996, pink spots of mold were visible behind vinyl wallcover and a strong mold odor was present in rooms and corridors. Similar to baking soda, silica-based cat litter absorbs plenty of moisture from the air. It makes sense when you think about it, as cat litter is designed to absorb, well, liquids. If damp has already formed, looking into specific types of prevention and identify the right way of how to treat damp in your home.

Use indoor humidity gauges to determine how much moisture is in the air.

Opening doors of built-in wardrobes that sit on outside walls and trying to keep furniture, clothes and shoes from touching outside walls can stop damp developing. Keeping gutters clear also decreases the amount of water that may spill down external walls, which could contribute to moisture in the home." Unfortunately, high humidity can cause some serious health problems. With the possibility of mold growth comes allergies, asthma-related problems, and sickness. If you notice you are having a hard time breathing, having more asthma attacks, or your allergies are always acting up at home you may need to find a solution fast.

How to prevent high humidity in your home

In parts of the country that have hot and humid climates, homeowners often call AC repair companies about overly humid houses every year when the weather starts to warm up. Ready to put an end to this sticky and heavy feeling in your house once and for all? We’ll tell you all that you need to know about indoor air comfort, why houses can become humid and most importantly, what you can do about it.

If any of this sounds familiar, your home may have a problem with excessive humidity because your air conditioner is not controlling the level of moisture in your indoor air. Not only will it make you hot and uncomfortable, but also high interior humidity can cause more serious problems like mold, mildew and rust, along with posing potential health risks. To avoid the types of problems seen at the Honolulu hotel, HVAC systems in buildings in humid climates must do several things to maintain humidity control. The HVAC system must properly condition the building's interior, including the building envelope, and pressurize the building with dehumidified air (called exfiltration).

When furniture is placed close to outside walls, there is a higher risk that damp will set in. High humidity creates excess moisture and condensation that potentially leads to mold or rot, while low humidity has been linked to the rapid spread of viruses like cold, flu, and even Covid-19. Learn how to tackle excess moisture and dry air, which can both cause damage to different parts of your property. Additionally, even if an HVAC or AC unit is the proper size, it can contribute to high humidity if it is not functioning properly. Achieving proper building pressurization is sometimes difficult.

How humidity damages your home — and how to fight it

Moisture levels can get out of hand quickly, though, encouraging mold, bacteria, dust mites, and more. An interior plumbing leak from a bathroom or kitchen sink can cause increased moisture in the air. It’s important for homeowners to check pipes often for cracks and corrosion; according to the EPA, leaks can lead to the growth of harmful biological pollutants.

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An indoor air quality monitor will provide real-time and historical data on humidity, as well as other metrics, so you know exactly where problems exist and where they could potentially arise. To prevent low humidity in your home, you should find ways to add more moisture into the air. For example, you might want to leave a door open to let steam escape from the shower. Think about investing in some pot plants too as they release moisture into the air.

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Bringing in a pro is a smart thing to prioritize, but you can also supplement with inexpensive, natural dehumidifying tactics. It’s not recommended to replace traditional methods with these techniques, but they’re useful to complement your investment in professional efforts. To figure out how to troubleshoot the high humidity in your house, start by walking through the five steps below. Your body will start using other defense mechanisms to try and protect you against overheating, including increased respiration and altered blood flow.

Suboptimal humidity levels in your home could be causing frequent colds, nosebleeds, and poor sleep hygiene.“Low humidity can cause dry skin, irritate respiratory tracts, and lead to static electricity. Excessive allergies and asthma, as well as mold and dust mites, can be signs that the humidity level inside your home is too high. Also, if you notice condensation on windows or walls, the indoor humidity is likely too high. By the way, there are definitely consequences to letting the humidity in your house get too high for too long. The most common problems are mold growth and condensation on windows—which can cause long-term damage to the property if not corrected.

But just the difference of a few degrees can reduce how much steam your shower emits. A humidistat controls the humidity levels, while a hygrometer measures and monitors humidity levels. When the humidity level deviates from the set point, the humidistat triggers the humidifier or dehumidifier to activate or deactivate accordingly. Herman says that simple changes, such as using a dehumidifier during humid months or a humidifier in dry conditions, can make a significant difference. The ideal indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 50%, but this doesn’t mean you must rush out and buy a humidifier if you’re reading 51% at specific points of the year. I typically advise my clients that intervention is necessary when indoor RH levels exceed 60% for more than brief periods.

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When moisture in the air can’t stay stagnant, it’s less likely to accumulate and cause issues. There are a few different popular dehumidifier options, from whole-home versions to basement and crawl space units. Each type was designed to capture water particles before they can overwhelm a home’s atmosphere.