Control Indoor Humidity Levels During a Rainy Spring

As the temperatures begin to rise this spring, the humidity levels will soon follow suit. Warmer air in the spring and summer holds more moisture, making the environment inside your home feel more humid. You may notice the first signs of humidity with condensation building on your windows and heavier, warmer air circulating your home. Combine that with heavy rains, and now you're dealing with extreme humidity levels that can create serious problems for both your home and your health.

That's why it's crucial to find and implement effective humidity control systems ahead of the rainy season.

What is Humidity?

Humidity is the measurement of water vapor present in the air. When more water vapor is present, the air feels muggy and sticky. The air feels dry and even staticky when there is less, like during the winter. The higher the temperature, the more water vapor can be held in the air. The optimal relative humidity for your home is between 40% to 60%.

What's at Risk?

As mentioned earlier, high humidity levels in your home can cause serious problems for your health and your home. Health concerns caused by high humidity include dehydration, increased congestion, fatigue, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. It can also increase mold and bacteria growth, which, if left untreated, can result in respiratory health hazards. This also damages your furniture and causes the wood in your home to swell, rot or deteriorate. While some levels of humidity may feel nice, too much of it is never a good thing.

But it's not all bad news. There are numerous ways to keep humidity levels at bay. Below are a few things you can do to help reduce home humidity:

  • Purchase a Dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are a great way to remove excess moisture from the air in your home. Opposite to humidifiers that you use in the dry winter months, dehumidifiers have a fan that pulls in the warm, humid air. That air then passes over a cold coil condensing the moisture into liquid. The dry air then passes over a warm coil and is recirculated back into the room.
    Dehumidifiers are a cost-effective and simple solution to high humidity levels. Dehumidifiers come in multiple shapes and sizes, and depending on the size of your home as well as your home humidity, it can feel overwhelming figuring out which one is right for you. Give the HVAC experts at Bradley Mechanical a call, and we'll help you find and select a dehumidifier perfect for your needs and budget.
  • Check Your Ventilation. Ventilation is simply the exchange of air into and out of an environment. It can play an important part in controlling the humidity levels in your home. Installing ventilation fans, especially in high-moisture rooms like bathrooms, can help remove excess moisture. If you already have ventilation vents, it's important to routinely check them to ensure they're in good shape.
    Remember to always run your ventilation fans while showering, cooking or doing laundry. These activities often release the most water vapor into your home.
  • Maintain Your Air Conditioner. When working properly, your air conditioning system will help dehumidify the air. However, if some rooms in your home are being overcooled, it can lead to condensation, which can raise humidity. Along with changing your air filters every 30 to 90 days, it's a good idea to have your air conditioning system maintained by a Bradley Mechanical HVAC professional at least twice per year. Our technicians will inspect your system, identify any issues and tune it up to ensure it is dehumidifying the air properly.
  • Fix Leaky Pipes. Leaking pipes and faucets means there's extra water flowing when it shouldn't. In basements and crawl spaces, exposed pipes can also create condensation. This adds moisture to the air, directly impacting your home humidity levels. If you notice a leaky faucet or suspect a pipe leak in the basement, don't hesitate to reach out to your trusted plumbers at Bradley Mechanical.

In the spring, cleaning and organizing are often top of mind – but don't forget about your air quality! Protecting the quality of your air is important to your health and the condition of your home. Controlling humidity levels and installing a proper ventilation system in your home are keys to a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. That is why our HVAC experts are highly trained and knowledgeable when it comes to keeping your home's heating and cooling systems running effectively all year round.

With over 50 years of professional experience serving our community throughout the changing seasons, you can rely on Bradley Mechanical to keep your home comfortable and safe. If you are experiencing excess moisture and high humidity levels in your home, give the experts at Bradley Mechanical a call.

Keep Humidity Levels at Bay with Bradley Mechanical.

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