Does Your Home Smell Musty?

When you walk into certain rooms, do they smell musty? It is hard to describe a musty smell, but you know it what it is when it enters your nose. Damp basements, bathrooms and closed rooms can harbor mildew and mold, creating that unique, musty smell. But more concerning than the odor is what is causing it and the other damage it can do to your home and health.

Dangers of Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are fungal growths that usually require moisture to thrive. There are thousands of different types of mold spores that grow on a variety of surfaces. The mold on your old bread is different than the pink mold in your shower. Some are fairly harmless, while others can be dangerous to your health.

Some of the aggressive black molds can have the highest risk if they take hold in your home. Not only can they destroy the surfaces where they grow, they can have spores that become air borne. Many types of mold spores can irritate the tissues in the respiratory system, especially in those with allergies or weakened immune systems. In some cases, they can be deadly or cause serious health problems.

Clearing Your Home of Mold

If you smell musty odors, you should consider monitoring your home’s humidity levels. Even if you do not see black mold or mildew, it can be growing in areas that are not visible. In most cases, you want to keep humidity levels below 60% to prevent mold growth and protect your home and health.

If you have high humidity levels in your home causing a musty odor and mold problems, contact your local HVAC service. They can go over dehumidifying options to stop mold and mildew growth in your home.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
1925 Lena Carter Road
Buford, GA 30519
(770) 475-9528

Climate Control for a Better Night’s Sleep

Do you toss and turn every night and wake up in the morning unrested? There are many factors that can impact sleep, including the air in your home. Climate control can make a big difference in how well you sleep at night. Here are some ways you can improve your sleep with some adjustments to your HVAC system and air quality in your home.

Cool Down for a Comfortable Sleep

While you may like to snuggle under warm blankets at night, keeping the air cooler around you can help improve your quality of sleep. Setting your temperature at nights lower can help you sleep better. If you have zone or room controls, change the thermostat setting in your bedroom to 60-65 degrees for the ideal sleeping temperatures.

Another way to cool down is to use fans in windows. This can reduce cooling costs and provides refreshing moving air while you sleep. The white noise of the fan can also help many people block out other noises and sleep better.

Check Your Humidity

High humidity can cause all types of problems in your home, but it can also impact your sleep. Heavy, muggy air can make it difficult to breathe easy when you are trying to sleep. Check the level of humidity – typically the best level for indoor air quality is around 40-50% to keep the air comfortable and reduce mold and mildew problems. If it is too high, talk to your local HVAC professionals to have a dehumidifier installed in your home.

Changing the air quality and climate in your home can be the solution to finding a good night’s rest. Try these tips to improve the comfort of the air in your home and you may begin noticing you feel more refreshed each morning.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

Is My Home Too Humid?

Climate control in your home can be difficult to manage. Keeping it the right temperature and humidity for comfort and safety can be a chore. A good HVAC system with an updated thermostat can help you manage the temperatures, but it does not help with the humidity. Here is how do you know if the humidity is too high in your home and what should you do to manage it.

Most people who have a humidity problem don’t need to check the air moisture levels to know they can an issue. There are subtle signs throughout the house that can alert you to a humidity problem. Signs to look for include:

  • Mold growth. Do you have mold on walls, windows or excessive amounts in your bathroom?
    While mold will grow if you don’t keep up with your household cleaning, if it seems excessive, you probably have a humidity problem.
  • Window condensation. Is there water condensation on your windows or do the trays in the window sills have water in them? This can be due to poorly insulated windows, but it is also a sign of high humidity.
  • Musty smells. If you walk into your home and it smells musty, it may be because your humidity levels are too high.

You can have your local HVAC service company check the humidity levels in your home. You want to stay between 40-60% on average to keep a good moisture balance. If your humidity levels are too high, you can discuss adding a dehumidifier option to your HVAC system. There are also portable dehumidifiers if the problem is only in certain rooms or areas of the house. Getting your moisture levels under control is important to prevent mold growth to maintain a healthy home, so don’t delay on finding a solution.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

Risks of High Humidity in Your Home

Humidity levels impact many aspects in your home, from comfort to cleaning. When humidity levels spike to levels above 60% on a consistent basis, you could be at risk for problems in your home. Here are some of the risks high humidity can pose to your home and health and what you can do to prevent these problems.

Mold Problems from Humidity

One of the biggest concerns with high humidity is mold growth in your home. This can include the pink molds that grow in your bathroom shower as well as dangerous black molds on windows, walls and closed spaces. Mold is a pain to clean and can pose health risks to your family, especially infants and those with respiratory issues. Reducing humidity can help control mold growth for a healthier home.

Material Damage

Humidity and mold can damage materials in your home. This can include anything made with paper products like books, photo albums and documents. It can also impact wood, which can be damaging to your furniture and home. Door and windows can stick, and wood drawers can swell or warp. Fabrics and upholstery can mildew and stain. Reducing humidity can protect the wood and paper in your home, as well as fabric or upholstery.

Odors

A musty home is usually caused by high humidity. If your home smells musty, it is a sign of too high of moisture and possible mold or mildew problems in the home. Clear out odor and the cause by thorough cleaning and reducing your humidity levels.

If humidity is a problem in your home, talk to your local HVAC service company about adding a whole house dehumidifier to your home. It is worth the investment to prevent the risks to your home and family from high moisture.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

Managing Humidity in Your Home

Musty odors, moldy bathrooms and bad indoor allergies can all be signs of high humidity in your home. Most regions have certain months that are higher than normal humidity – for some it is winter, for others summer is the wetter season. Regardless of where you live, keeping humidity under control inside your home can protect your house and health.

What Level of Humidity Is Too High?

Humidity must be the right balance indoors to avoid issues. If there is not enough moisture in the air, your comfort can be affected. Too much moisture and your home becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew that can ruin wood, fabrics, walls and be a detriment to your health. The right humidity balance indoors should be hovering around 35-45%.

To keep your home at the ideal humidity level, you first need to know where it is at now. If you have had problems with mold, mildew or condensation on windows, there is a good chance you have a high humidity problem. A hygrometer can measure your humidity levels – you can buy one or have your local HVAC service perform a humidity test on the air in your home.

If you do have high humidity, you can invest in a dehumidifier that can keep your moisture levels in the right zone. For some homes, only certain areas have humidity issues, like a basement or garage. In those cases, a portable dehumidifier is the best option. For whole home moisture balance, a whole home dehumidifier can be added to your HVAC system to keep your air quality at the ideal moisture levels. Both options can be found through your local HVAC service company.

Posted on behalf of:
Western Aire Heating & Cooling
Marietta, GA 30066
(770) 505-7426

Mildew on My Woodwork: What’s Wrong?

When you notice your wood baseboards or window sills are covered in mildew, it can be alarming. Not only is this unhealthy and bad for your expensive woodwork, it can mean there is a problem with moisture in your home. Mildew growing on surfaces is a sign that you may need to consider a change in your HVAC system.

Mildew flourishes in high-moisture air and unventilated areas. It is normal to have mildew appear in high humidity rooms like your bathroom, especially when it is not properly ventilated. However, it should be easy to control if you have a good HVAC system and air filter. Circulating and filtering the air helps remove moisture and mold spores from the air, keeping mildew at bay. However, if your HVAC system is not working properly, or there is high humidity in your region, you may experience mold and mildew in your home.

Combatting High Humidity

To stop mildew and mold, you must reduce the humidity in your home. Ideally, the humidity in your home should average about 40-50% to keep mold and mildew at bay. If you have been having mildew problems, call your local HVAC service. They can test the humidity in your air and do a complete inspection on your HVAC system. It may need a tune-up, new filter or duct cleaning to improve your air quality. If the humidity in your home is too high, they can recommend a dehumidification system that can be added to your HVAC to lower the moisture content in your air.

Mildew on woodwork and other surfaces should be taken seriously, as you may have mold growing in other areas in your home. Talk to your HVAC service company to find a solution to keep your home mold and mildew free.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
Buford, GA 30519
(770) 475-9528

Signs that You May Need a Dehumidifier in Your Home

Humidity can be an issue, especially in certain regions of the country. The southeast is particularly prone to high humidity, which can affect the comfort and air quality in your home. Humid air is not just uncomfortable, it can cause damage to wood and other materials in your home. Mold can lead to expensive repairs and put your family’s health at risk. Here are a few signs that you may need to lower the humidity in your home with a dehumidifier.

  • Musty smell. The distinct musty smell of mildew is a sign you may have too much humidity in your home. This means there is mold in your home, whether it is hiding in cardboard boxes in the garage or growing in the corners of your bathroom.
  • Condensation on windows. If you notice constant condensation on windows or glass doors in your home, too much humidity may be a problem. This water condensation can ruin the trim and molding around doors and windows; it can also lead to dangerous black mold that can release harmful spores into the air.
  • Mold growth on walls, doors and ceiling is a bad sign. This means the air is humid enough to allow mold to grow on an open surface. Cleaning the mold off the surface is only a temporary fix – you need to control the moisture levels in your home.

If you have any of these signs of humidity or the humidity level in your home is constantly spiking above 50-60%, you should consider adding a whole home dehumidifier to your HVAC system. This can improve your air quality, protecting your home and family.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

Is There Too Much Humidity in Your Home?

Moist air can cause issues when it is contained within your home. High humidity can create mold issues and damage to materials in your home. This can lead to health problems for your family and expensive repairs to your property. Monitoring and managing humidity is important, especially in regions of the country that experience high humidity during certain seasons of the year. Here is how to check your humidity levels and what to do if they are too high within your home.

Checking Your Humidity Levels

If you are concerned about the humidity levels in your home, you can use a hygrometer or humidity sensor to check your levels. Your local HVAC service professional can also check them for you. The ideal level in most homes is between 35-45%. However, the temperature outside and time of year can influence these levels. If your levels are reaching 60% or higher, you can be at risk for mold growth in your home.

Managing Humidity Levels

If you have high humidity throughout your home, you can effectively manage by adding a dehumidifier to your air conditioning or HVAC system. This can moderate the humidity and keep it at a safe level in your home. It is worth the investment to avoid health complications in your family due to mold growth. It can also protect your home from moisture and mold damage that can cost you thousands of dollars to repair.

Humidity can be a serious issue in your home if left unchecked. Talk to your local HVAC service company to learn more about humidity testing and dehumidifier options for your home’s heating or cooling system.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
5950 Shiloh Road East
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 475-9555

Is Humidity Making Your Home Unhealthy?

In some parts of the country, humidity is a year-round problem. Summers are hot and sticky, and winters are wet and soggy. All this moisture may keep the grass green and the foliage bright, but it can also cause problems inside your home. Grass and trees are not the only things that love the humidity; mold grows best in a humid environment. Don’t let mold takeover your home and cause an unhealthy place for your family. Reduce humidity with a dehumidifier system.

How do you know if your home is under mold attack? Some signs are obvious, like mold on walls or windows. But often mold hides in areas you can’t see, but the danger and damage it causes is still there. If you have any of these issues in your home, you may have a potential mold issue waiting to happen.

  • Condensation on windows or walls
  • Moldy or musty smells in the home
  • Wet stains on ceiling tiles
  • Warped floor boards
  • Increased allergy issues in your family
  • Hard-to-control bathroom mold

If you have noticed any of these issues in your home, it is time to invest in a dehumidifier for your home. A whole house dehumidifier works with your air conditioning system to keep moisture levels under control. An experienced HVAC service company can test your humidity levels in your home and offer solutions for better moisture control.

Mold can affect your family’s health and cause expensive damage to your home. Don’t let the high humidity make your home unhealthy. Remove the excess moisture with the installation of a new dehumidifier for your home to protect your family and home investment.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
Marietta, GA
(770) 475-9564

Is The Humidity Too High Inside Your Home?

Certain regions of the country experience higher than normal humidity levels, which can only get worse inside buildings. Once this moist air is confined, it has the potential to cause mold, health problems and even damage to the structure. If you live in an area with high humidity, your home may be in need of a whole house dehumidifier to protect your family’s health and the integrity of your home. 

Signs Of High Humidity In Your Home

There are definite signs your home is experiencing high humidity levels. Some of the signs are obvious, such as mold growth and rot. However, not all the signs are as easy to recognize. Keep an eye out for these signs, which may indicate the presence of excessive humidity levels: 

–        Allergic reactions. Humidity can cause mold spore growth and increase the levels of dust mites in your home. Both of these contaminants can aggravate people who have allergies and asthma, contributing to heightened symptoms and reactions.

–        Stains on walls or ceilings. If you’ve noticed water spots or stains on your walls or ceilings, it may be from excess moisture accumulating in your home. This can cause damage to your home which can be expensive to repair.

–        Mold growth. While all homes can have mold growth, if you have noticed an increased amount in your bathroom or kitchen, humidity levels may be to blame. Are you noticing musty smells or condensation on the windows? If so, your levels of moisture are too high and may be causing excess mold in your home. 

The best solution to high humidity in your home is a whole house dehumidifier. Your local HVAC contractor can test your home’s humidity levels, and offer advice about installing a new dehumidifier in your home to remedy the problem.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
Marietta, GA
(770) 475-9564