How to Reduce Home Humidity and Condensation

Humidity and condensation can wreak havoc on a home’s interior. While a little moisture in the air can help make a room more comfortable, excessive humidity can cause condensation which can lead to the formation of mold and mildew. The ideal level of humidity for indoors ranges between 30 and 50 percent, so if you’re experiencing higher levels, you need to do something about it. Here’s how you can reduce your home’s humidity and condensation.

Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside

Air from your dryer is very humid, so you don’t want to pump it back into your home. Make sure the dryer vents outside to reduce interior humidity. If you don’t have a dryer, hang clothes on an airing rack on your deck or install a clothes line. Drying clothing indoors will increase the moisture in the air and cause condensation.

Seal up leaky windows and doors

Leaky seals around your doors and windows can cause excessive humidity inside your home. Repair these using sealant from your local home improvement store, or consider updating your doors and windows to more energy efficient ones. If you aren’t sure whether you have leaky seals around your windows or doors, light an incense stick and hold it near the edge of your doors and windows. On a windy day, it will be easy to see the air leaking in because it will send the smoke from the incense scattering.

Use air vents in kitchens and bathrooms

Warm water makes for warm air, so it’s natural that you’ll have some added humidity in these areas of your home. Utilize the air vents that are installed in these rooms and if you don’t have them, consider installing them. As with dryer vents, these need to vent outdoors to be efficient at control interior humidity levels.

Consider using a dehumidifier

If you’ve tried everything but you still can’t get humidity under control, consider using a dehumidifier inside your home. It can help get the moisture levels back to normal and prevent condensation on your walls and windows.

For tips on choosing the best windows to battle condensation, visit Windows Plus today.