Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality from the Humidity

For many, humidity and summer go hand-in-hand. The thick, hot air can sometimes make it unbearable to go outside, so the last thing you want is for that humidity to find its way inside your home.

Your indoor air quality isn't just impacted by dust and allergens – moisture can be a major nuisance. Summer humidity often sneaks into your home whether you want it to or not. A certain amount of moisture is a good thing. Still, too much can be harmful to your home's air quality, performance and overall comfort.

In order to protect your home from excess moisture this summer, it's important to understand how humidity impacts your indoor air quality and what you can do about it. Discover more in our tips and tricks below.

What is Indoor Air Quality?

First, let's understand what exactly Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to. IAQ shows you the health and cleanliness of the air within your home. There are certain pollutants that should be kept out of the house to preserve the comfort and health of the residents. This includes dust, debris, allergens and, of course, moisture. Moisture is especially important as it can fester within your home, and pollutants can leach into your air.

Here are a few signs of excess moisture in the home:

  • Water and moisture on cool surfaces
  • Condensation on windows during the changing seasons
  • Water stains on the ceiling
  • A musty or moldy odor
  • Peeling paint
  • Warped walls
  • Swollen, cracked or stained floorboards
  • Visible mold and mildew growth
  • Dust mites or excess dust
  • Rotting trees near the home
  • "Sticky" doors and windows that are difficult to open or close

While this moisture can affect your home, the most important thing is how it affects you. Your home should be a comfortable, safe haven. Instead, moisture and humidity can cause your home to be a source of discomfort and even illness.

Another big sign of poor indoor air quality is increased respiratory issues and allergies. If you have asthma or mold allergies, it's of the utmost importance to rid your home of moisture right away.

How to Keep Humidity Out

Fortunately, there are several simple ways you can keep humidity out of your home this summer:

  • Ventilate the areas in your home that are most likely to accumulate moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements and crawlspaces. Exhaust fans are a great way to vent moisture back outside.
  • Use a dehumidifier to cleanse your air of moisture. Of course, you don't want your air to become too dry. The ideal humidity level in your home is between 40 and 60%. Use your dehumidifier in conjunction with a humidity detector to monitor your levels.
  • Monitor the exterior of your home for any leaks or cracks that may allow water to enter. Check and clean gutters and downspouts regularly. They should be clearing water away from your home, not towards it.
  • Vent or seal your crawl space. Unsealed crawl spaces are susceptible to moisture and mold growth. The moisture can attract even more indoor air pollutants such as wood rot, insects, and other critters. Around 60% of the air you breathe in your home circulates through the crawlspace and picks up these hazards along the way.

Another great way to prevent humidity from entering your home is by undergoing a professional home performance test. These tests will identify weaknesses in your home that may not be visible to you. The report will provide a full overview of how well your home performs in various ways, helping you improve your indoor air quality and save money on utility bills.

Banish Humidity from Your Home with Bradley Mechanical

If you live in Central Virginia, it's important to test your indoor air quality regularly. When you live in a high humidity environment, as well as one with rapidly changing seasons, humidity and other issues can sneakily enter your home without you noticing.

Bradley Mechanical's certified technicians can identify the issues and problem areas in your home that are contributing to poor indoor air quality. We'll look at the obvious areas, as well as the not-so-obvious areas, like your crawl space, HVAC vents and behind drywall. Our trained eye can spot excess moisture from a mile away, along with our advanced tools and technology.

We offer services that are important in high humidity areas, including crawlspace sealing and other indoor air quality tune-ups. Call us today to learn more and keep your home comfortable all summer long.

Reduce Home Humidity with Bradley Mechanical.

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