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Controlling Summer Humidity
Warmer weather brings with it higher humidity levels. Moisture in the air can make your home uncomfortably damp and can even promote the growth of mold and mildew, which not only smells bad, but can also ruin your belongings and your home. Mildew and mold are also bad for your health. Following are suggestions on how to manage moisture in your home this summer:
Monitor Humidity Levels. An inexpensive humidity gauge along with weather reports and signs of moisture in your home can let you know when humidity levels are too high. Generally, humidity levels under 50% should be okay, while levels above 50% could cause problems. Higher levels, along with symptoms such as a musty smell or signs of mold or mildew, mean it’s time to take corrective action. Reacting quickly could prevent expensive damage to your home and/or its contents.
Eliminate Sources of Moisture. To manage excessive moisture in your home, you should first eliminate as many sources as you can. Cover pots of boiling water, cook outdoors, move indoor plants outdoors in warm weather, use exhaust fans in kitchen and bathrooms to vent moisture outdoors, make certain groundwater drains away from the house and keep windows closed on humid days. Drip pans under your refrigerator and freezer should be clean and dry and all exposed cold water pipes are wrapped with a suitable insulation.
Keep the air moving. Moisture can be evaporated and mold/mildew can be controlled with air movement. Portable fans, ceiling fans, and even your furnace fan set to “ON” can help move the air. If the humidity levels outside are lower than inside (check your humidity gauge), open windows and let Mother Nature take over.
Use a Dehumidifier. If all else fails, you may have to use a dehumidifier to control excessive moisture. Dehumidifiers work by presenting a cold surface (i.e. coil) to the air, which causes moisture to condense and drain. A stand-alone dehumidifier can consume a lot of electricity and only removes moisture from the air, without cooling the room. An air-conditioner will remove moisture from the air in addition to cooling your home, so it is a preferred solution to controlling excessive humidity levels. Either of these systems can take a great deal of energy to run, so use them only when needed.
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