How to Lower Humidity in the Home During Summer

Summer is the time of year when humidity levels in our homes can become unbearable. While there are many ways to combat high humidity, this blog post will focus on three methods that are simple, inexpensive, and effective. So put on your superhero cape and let’s get started!

What is a good indoor humidity level?

Humidity levels inside your home vary based on the season. In the winter, you want to maintain a humidity level of 30-40% in your home in order to maintain comfortability. During the summer months, a level of 50-60% is ideal in the Maryland area. Unfortunately, humidity levels are getting worse every year due to climate change.

In order to keep track of what’s happening inside your home, we recommend purchasing a temperature and humidity sensor. We like this one by AirThings because it also measures radon, CO2, mold risk, and other things.

Ways to Lower Humidity in Your Home

Use Your Exhaust Fans

Exhaust fans in the bathroom should remove humidity from your home if they were done properly. [A home energy auditor can tell you and fix it for you.] When you take a steamy shower, that humidity needs to escape somewhere. They even make humidity sensing switches that will only turn off when the fan reaches your desired humidity. Take that, teenager, that doesn’t turn the fan on! An exhaust fan takes that air outside your home so that your residence stays comfortable.

[Related Reading: The Truth About Bathroom Fans]

Dry Your Laundry Outside

Grab a clothesline and some pins and use that hot sunny day to dry your laundry! Similar to a steamy shower, the humidity that comes from running your dryer needs to go somewhere. Hang laundry to dry outside and enjoy minimal humidity levels inside. If you’re going to use your dryer make sure the exhaust duct is connected properly and you have the dryer cleaned.

Supply Ducts

Make sure the supply registers are all open. The cool air will help lower the humidity. Cool air needs to rise and hit the ceiling to mix then settle down in the room. If something is blocking that path, cool air will never get high enough to settle.

Schedule a Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit will tell you where your home is leaking conditioned air or if ductwork is the issue. Either way, that means, your air conditioner or HVAC system is working hard to get rid of humidity, however outside air is creeping in and negating all that hard work. Once you know where the problem lies – inadequate insulation, leaky windows, poor duct design, foundation issues, etc. – you can take the steps to fix the issue and get your home back to optimal comfort.

Conclusion

Just because the weather is hot and sticky doesn’t mean you have to suffer in your own home. These tips will help lower humidity and make your home more comfortable. Have any other tips to share? Let us know on our Facebook Page.