Ventilation Tips to Keep the Humidity Out

Humidity in the summer is simply just a part of life. It’s also why it’s important to know how to keep excess moisture and humidity out of your home. That moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, structural damage and hazardous air quality for you and your loved ones.

When the warm summer air contacts a cool surface in your home, it condenses into water droplets. For example, cold water pipes can accumulate condensation and run down into structural components such as walls and windows. Besides warm air, there are other household activities that can contribute moisture to the air — including cooking, bathing, drying clothes and dishwashing. Odds are you’ve seen a buildup of condensation and humid air after a long shower or doing multiple loads of laundry.

How can you keep this humidity at bay? Home ventilation systems are key to keeping you not just comfortable in your home but safe.

What is Ventilation?

Ventilation is the proper exchange between indoor and outdoor air. Without ventilation, there would be no way to circulate heated or cooled air throughout your home.

Proper home ventilation can control humidity, moisture and temperature. It’s also a key part of maintaining an energy-efficient home — which means lower monthly utility bills.

Four Ways to Effectively Ventilate Your Home:

  1. Whole house ventilation: This method uses a combination of fans and duct work to ventilate your entire house. The system creates a suction effect that exchanges hot indoor air with cooled outdoor air. You could have leaky ducts if you have a whole house ventilation system yet still experience poor performance. That means your ducts are losing cool air and making your system over-perform, causing high energy costs and poor indoor air quality.
  2. Natural Ventilation: Windows and doors can also function as a ventilation system. You’re probably thinking that leaving these open in the summer will only make your home hotter, but that’s not always the case. Try opening windows in the morning and evening when temperatures are coolest — and remember to close them when the sun starts to rise. This allows natural air to flow throughout and effectively removes house humidity when used correctly.
  3. Spot Ventilation: This is a great method for rooms in your home that retain more humidity than others, such as kitchens and bathrooms. A great example of spot ventilation is installing exhaust fans to control moisture. Flip on the fan while you take a shower, and you’re sure to see a difference in accumulated moisture. Use this method along with other types of ventilation for the best results. Spot ventilation can also make natural ventilation more effective — as it can help push the hot air out.
  4. Structural Ventilation: It’s important to ventilate all the spaces in your home, even the ones you can’t see. Crawl spaces are especially prone to moisture, which means more mold growth and structural rot. As your air circulates through these spaces, it becomes saturated with these substances, which you and your family end up breathing in. Sealing your crawlspaces and properly venting them can ensure your air is clean and healthy.

Other DIY methods include using dehumidifiers and fans to circulate air and suck up excess moisture. While these solutions can be quick and easy, they are not necessarily long-term solutions. Home ventilation systems, as well as HVAC ventilation, are your best bets when it comes to keeping your home comfortable and dry during the humid months.

Meet Your Ventilation Experts

If you’ve ever considered giving Bradley Mechanical a shot, this record-breaking humid summer is certainly the time. Our commercial and residential duct services can help you save money, stay healthy and keep your home cool and comfortable.

We approach indoor air quality treatment with a variety of solutions, including:

  • Air filtration and purification
  • Temperature regulation
  • Air duct cleaning and sealing
  • Air duct performance testing
  • HVAC cleaning
  • HVAC performance testing
  • Air quality testing

In many cases, homeowners and business owners are shocked to find their ventilation system isn’t working as well as it should. There are numerous reasons why this may be the case, and there are just as many solutions to fix the problem.

Bradley Mechanical offers a wide variety of options to ensure your home or office has clean, fresh air flowing every day. Give us a call and speak with one of our certified ventilation experts to find out how you can improve your indoor air quality with a whole house ventilation system.

Breathe easier with Bradley Mechanical.

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