Humidity and window condensation is more than just irritating. It can rot wood, damage plaster, and your entire home. The excess moisture inside your home can lead to interior condensation. The only way to prevent damage to your home is to arm yourself with the right knowledge and tools. That is why we will be discussing humidity and window condensation and how to protect your house.
Humidity
In basic terms, humidity is just the amount of water vapor present in the air that results in an uncomfortable, muggy feeling inside your home. However, you do need some level of humidity inside your home in order to maintain the air quality and ensure that you don’t have itchy dry skin. However, if you have overly humid air, it will condense on your windows and lead to damage.
Effect of too little humidity
If the air inside your house is too dry, it can damage your home, possessions, health, and comfort. It will make your skin feel itchy and cold and can even dry out mucous membranes in your body that cause chapped lips and sore throats. Having dry air in your home can increase breathing difficulties such as wheezing and coughing. The constant shrinking and cracking around the molding and door frames will lead to your home suffering extensive damage as well. Anything that you have in your home that is made of wood will start warping and bending and the dried wood will shrink in size. Your wooden floors will start creaking and even separate.
Effect of too much humidity
Having too much humidity will impact your home, possessions, health, and comfort. Your body won’t be able to regulate the internal temperature through the evaporation process. And, you will not only feel uncomfortable, but sick. High humidity levels can encourage the growth of mold, dust mites, and fungus leading to breathing difficulties for people with allergies and asthma. Your home will become a breeding ground for mildew and mold which will lead to costly damage. Over time, a high humidity level will attract unwanted insects and cause your wood to rot. Your furniture and other items will swell and wrap.
Eliminating high humidity
If you have high humidity levels inside your home, there are a lot of options that you have to get rid of it. Here are a few tips:
- The first step that you can take is installing a dehumidifier that works exactly like a humidifier, but in reverse, which means that it sucks water from the air. The only thing that you have to do is empty the tank after it is filled. Once it is time to do this, you will get a warning light on the system. This is a great solution for smaller rooms.
- Activities such as stovetop cooking can contribute to the high humidity levels. In order to reduce the humidity levels, you should cover the cooking pots and prevent the steam from transferring into the air and run the kitchen’s ventilation fan.
- When you are taking a shower, keep the production of steam to a minimum and switch to a cooler and shorter shower. Use the exhaust fan for eliminating the steam. Also, if you have a humidity problem, avoid drying your laundry indoors.
- Another important tip for dehumidifying your home is to maintain your air conditioner. The work of an air conditioner is lowering the temperature and dehumidifying. In case you have an unexplained and sudden humidity problem, it is possible that you have an issue with the condenser.
- If you want to get creative with the dehumidifying strategies, you can try covering the crawl space under your floor with a vapor barrier. Also, you can put some Boston ferns in your home since they are adept at absorbing water.
Ideal humidity levels inside the home
The ideal humidity for your room should be between 30 to 50%.
Installing the energy-efficient windows
If you have properly insulated windows, it will reduce the air leakage inside your home. In the case of older windows, there is more airflow between the outside and inside of the house. They are caulked, poorly sealed, and can be quite porous because of natural breakdown and wear and tear of the windows. Installing a high-efficiency window will make your house air-tight. So, if you are ready for improving the energy efficiency and the curb appeal of your home, you need to look no further than the Eco Choice Windows and Doors. We deliver the best quality of customer service and make us the most reputable window and door company in Canada. To Test Asbestos in your Home Visit Asbestos Sampling.
