Feb 13, 2025
How to Control Humidity Inside Your Home or Business
How to Control Humidity Inside Your Home or Business
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Pro Tips: How to Control Humidity Inside Your Home or Business
Living in the South means dealing with high humidity year-round, which can lead to discomfort, mold growth, poor indoor air quality, and increased HVAC strain. Keeping indoor humidity levels balanced is essential for creating a comfortable and healthy living environment. Here are the best strategies to control humidity inside your home or business and keep it at an optimal level.
1. Use a Dehumidifier to Remove Excess Moisture
A whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to extract excess moisture from the air, preventing mold, mildew, and allergens from thriving. If you have persistent high humidity issues, consider installing a dedicated dehumidification system.
Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier:
Reduces musty odors caused by mold and mildew.
Prevents moisture buildup that leads to warped wood and peeling paint.
Improves indoor air quality and reduces allergens.
Enhances HVAC efficiency, reducing strain on your air conditioning unit.
For smaller spaces or specific problem areas, portable dehumidifiers can also be effective in controlling moisture.
2. Optimize Your Air Conditioning System
Your HVAC system plays a crucial role in managing humidity levels. Ensuring that your air conditioner is properly sized and maintained is essential for keeping humidity in check.
Ways to Optimize Your AC for Humidity Control:
Regular maintenance: Clean or replace most air filters every 30-60 days to ensure proper airflow.
Check refrigerant levels: Low refrigerant can reduce your AC’s ability to dehumidify effectively.
Set the thermostat to auto: Keeping your fan in the "Auto" mode allows the system to run dehumidification cycles instead of continuously circulating humid air.
Ensure proper system sizing: An oversized AC unit cools too quickly without effectively removing humidity, leading to a cold but clammy environment.
3. Improve Ventilation and Airflow
Proper ventilation is key to reducing indoor humidity levels and maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
Ways to Improve Air Circulation:
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to remove moisture-laden air.
Ensure attic and crawl space ventilation to prevent humidity buildup in hidden areas.
Open windows when the outdoor humidity is low to promote fresh air circulation.
Use ceiling fans to enhance airflow and help with evaporation of moisture inside the home.
4. Seal Air Leaks and Insulate Your Home
Humidity from the outside can seep into your home through air leaks, poorly sealed doors, and windows. Proper insulation and sealing techniques can help keep unwanted moisture out.
How to Seal and Insulate for Better Humidity Control:
Seal gaps around windows and doors using weather stripping or caulk.
Insulate ductwork to prevent condensation from forming.
Check for cracks in the foundation or walls that allow humid air to enter.
5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat with Humidity Control
Many modern smart thermostats, such as Ecobee and Nest, come with built-in humidity sensors and settings that allow for automatic humidity adjustments.
How Smart Thermostats Help:
Monitor indoor humidity levels in real time.
Activate dehumidification mode when humidity exceeds recommended levels.
Work with your HVAC system to maintain balanced moisture levels.
Provide energy-saving recommendations to optimize home comfort.
6. Reduce Indoor Moisture Sources
Everyday household activities can contribute to excess humidity inside your home. Simple lifestyle changes can help maintain balanced moisture levels.
Ways to Reduce Humidity from Daily Activities:
Use lids when cooking to minimize steam.
Take shorter, cooler showers and use an exhaust fan afterward.
Avoid air-drying clothes indoors, as this releases moisture into the air.
Empty and clean drip pans from refrigerators and air conditioners regularly.
Keep houseplants to a minimum, as soil and leaves release moisture into the air.
7. Know When to Call a Professional
If you’ve tried all these methods and your home still feels excessively humid, there could be underlying HVAC or insulation issues that need expert attention.
Signs You Need Professional Help:
Persistent musty odors despite cleaning and ventilation.
Condensation forming on windows and walls.
Increased allergy or asthma symptoms caused by mildew spores.
High energy bills from an overworked HVAC system.
Water damage or visible mold growth in hidden areas.
At Air Orleans, we specialize in humidity control solutions tailored to the unique climate of the Greater New Orleans area. Whether you need a whole-home dehumidifier, HVAC system upgrade, or expert advice, our team is here to help.
Let’s Talk Humidity Control!
Call us at 504.407.1677
Email support@airorleans.com
Stay informed with Air Orleans Pro Tips, where we help you achieve ultimate home comfort, no matter how humid it gets!
Pro Tips: How to Control Humidity Inside Your Home or Business
Living in the South means dealing with high humidity year-round, which can lead to discomfort, mold growth, poor indoor air quality, and increased HVAC strain. Keeping indoor humidity levels balanced is essential for creating a comfortable and healthy living environment. Here are the best strategies to control humidity inside your home or business and keep it at an optimal level.
1. Use a Dehumidifier to Remove Excess Moisture
A whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to extract excess moisture from the air, preventing mold, mildew, and allergens from thriving. If you have persistent high humidity issues, consider installing a dedicated dehumidification system.
Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier:
Reduces musty odors caused by mold and mildew.
Prevents moisture buildup that leads to warped wood and peeling paint.
Improves indoor air quality and reduces allergens.
Enhances HVAC efficiency, reducing strain on your air conditioning unit.
For smaller spaces or specific problem areas, portable dehumidifiers can also be effective in controlling moisture.
2. Optimize Your Air Conditioning System
Your HVAC system plays a crucial role in managing humidity levels. Ensuring that your air conditioner is properly sized and maintained is essential for keeping humidity in check.
Ways to Optimize Your AC for Humidity Control:
Regular maintenance: Clean or replace most air filters every 30-60 days to ensure proper airflow.
Check refrigerant levels: Low refrigerant can reduce your AC’s ability to dehumidify effectively.
Set the thermostat to auto: Keeping your fan in the "Auto" mode allows the system to run dehumidification cycles instead of continuously circulating humid air.
Ensure proper system sizing: An oversized AC unit cools too quickly without effectively removing humidity, leading to a cold but clammy environment.
3. Improve Ventilation and Airflow
Proper ventilation is key to reducing indoor humidity levels and maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
Ways to Improve Air Circulation:
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to remove moisture-laden air.
Ensure attic and crawl space ventilation to prevent humidity buildup in hidden areas.
Open windows when the outdoor humidity is low to promote fresh air circulation.
Use ceiling fans to enhance airflow and help with evaporation of moisture inside the home.
4. Seal Air Leaks and Insulate Your Home
Humidity from the outside can seep into your home through air leaks, poorly sealed doors, and windows. Proper insulation and sealing techniques can help keep unwanted moisture out.
How to Seal and Insulate for Better Humidity Control:
Seal gaps around windows and doors using weather stripping or caulk.
Insulate ductwork to prevent condensation from forming.
Check for cracks in the foundation or walls that allow humid air to enter.
5. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat with Humidity Control
Many modern smart thermostats, such as Ecobee and Nest, come with built-in humidity sensors and settings that allow for automatic humidity adjustments.
How Smart Thermostats Help:
Monitor indoor humidity levels in real time.
Activate dehumidification mode when humidity exceeds recommended levels.
Work with your HVAC system to maintain balanced moisture levels.
Provide energy-saving recommendations to optimize home comfort.
6. Reduce Indoor Moisture Sources
Everyday household activities can contribute to excess humidity inside your home. Simple lifestyle changes can help maintain balanced moisture levels.
Ways to Reduce Humidity from Daily Activities:
Use lids when cooking to minimize steam.
Take shorter, cooler showers and use an exhaust fan afterward.
Avoid air-drying clothes indoors, as this releases moisture into the air.
Empty and clean drip pans from refrigerators and air conditioners regularly.
Keep houseplants to a minimum, as soil and leaves release moisture into the air.
7. Know When to Call a Professional
If you’ve tried all these methods and your home still feels excessively humid, there could be underlying HVAC or insulation issues that need expert attention.
Signs You Need Professional Help:
Persistent musty odors despite cleaning and ventilation.
Condensation forming on windows and walls.
Increased allergy or asthma symptoms caused by mildew spores.
High energy bills from an overworked HVAC system.
Water damage or visible mold growth in hidden areas.
At Air Orleans, we specialize in humidity control solutions tailored to the unique climate of the Greater New Orleans area. Whether you need a whole-home dehumidifier, HVAC system upgrade, or expert advice, our team is here to help.
Let’s Talk Humidity Control!
Call us at 504.407.1677
Email support@airorleans.com
Stay informed with Air Orleans Pro Tips, where we help you achieve ultimate home comfort, no matter how humid it gets!
Need service fast?
Need service fast?
Need service fast?
CALL NOW!