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

HVAC Systems and Allergies

When the spring and summer months arrive, so do many of the most common allergens that plague many people. From the pollen and grasses to the molds and dust, allergies can become a nightmare. One place that should be a haven for those with allergies is their home. With a good HVAC system in place, closing the doors and windows should create a mostly allergen-free environment. However, to create this escape from allergens, there are a few HVAC maintenance tips you should consider.

  • Air filter. For those who suffer from allergies, a high quality air filter for your HVAC system is a must. You want a HEPA filter that will clear dust, pollen, dander and mold spores from the air. These filters can need to be replaced as much as once a month during peak allergy season.
  • Duct cleaning. Ducts can be a source of nasty allergens, spreading more dust and mold throughout your home. A thorough duct cleaning in the spring is a good way to ensure you are not spreading more allergens around your home.
  • Dehumidifier. If you live in a region that has high humidity during the summer, the combination of heat and humidity creates a hot bed for mold in your home. Adding a dehumidifier to your HVAC system can help keep these harmful mold spores from sprouting inside your home.

Spring is a good time to schedule your HVAC maintenance to create an allergen-free zone for allergy sufferers during the summer months. Call your local HVAC service specialists to schedule an annual tune-up and discuss filter, duct cleaning and dehumidification options to improve the air quality inside your home, while keeping it cool and comfortable during the hot summer months.

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

Why Do I Need A Dehumidifier?

Basements are not only the only place in the home where excessive levels of humidity can exist.  Often excessive humidity exists throughout the home and should be removed, as it can be a health hazard to the home’s occupants.  In addition, it can cause damage to the home and contents of the home as well.  

There are a number of visible clues for which may mean the presence of excessive humidity including dampness on the home’s walls and ceilings, musty odors throughout the home, condensation on the insides of windows, flare ups of allergies and the presence of mold and mildew in the bathrooms.  While these visual clues are effective, the best way to determine the humidity levels is to measure the humidity level with a hygrometer. 

If excessive humidity exists, the best solution is to add a whole house dehumidifier, which will maintain the humidity at a constant level.  The key is to remove the excessive humidity, while maintaining enough moisture to make the home comfortable and keeping wood joints from gapping.  While air conditioning units reduce the humidity in the home, a whole house humidifier works even when the air conditioning is not being used. 

Whole house dehumidifiers are preferred over portable dehumidifiers due to their ability to provide whole house coverage, while portable units only provide localized coverage.  In addition, portable dehumidifiers require the units to be plugged into existing outlets, as well as a periodic emptying of the water collected in the pan.  A whole house unit is a part of the HVAC system and all of the moisture collected during dehumidification is piped out of the home.

Posted on behalf of Find Local HVAC