For ideal comfort, the humidity inside your house should range between 30 and 50 percent. If it gets any higher, not only will homeowners feel hot and sweaty, dangerous mold and mildew also has a chance to grow. Thankfully, there are some easy steps Ashland, VA homeowners can take to lower humidity in their homes.
Ventilate the House
The most important rooms to ventilate in your house are the kitchen and bathroom since these rooms create the most moisture. If you're cooking, showering, or running the washer and dryer, you should turn on the vent fan to help pull moisture out of the air. If you don't have a vent fan, you can also crack a window to dry out the air.
Use Central Air Conditioning
Air conditioning doesn't just cool your home, it also pulls moisture from the air. Therefore, running the air conditioner helps your home feel cool and comfortable. Unfortunately, dirty air filters and leaks in the ductwork not only raise your energy costs, but they also lower the efficiency of your air conditioner unit and let humidity levels increase.
Improve Drainage Around the House
Keeping water away from your house will also help lower humidity inside. Make sure all the downspouts and gutters are clean and extended away from the house. Also, be sure the dirt slopes away from the house so water doesn't pool around the foundation. Finally, don't over-water the plants around your foundation.
Use a Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers work best in rooms that don't get any sunlight, such as basements or bathrooms without windows. However, they'll work in any room that needs moisture removed from the air. To help it work at its best, place the dehumidifier in the middle of a room (away from furniture) with closed doors and windows.
If you're worried about the humidity levels in your home, contact the professionals at Gilman Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing at (804) 329-1800 for an indoor air quality check and help with your humidity problems.
Image provided by Shutterstock