How to Lower Humidity in Your Home: 22 Tips for Homeowners to Try
Excessive moisture has met its match
Excess moisture in your home affects your living environment and can impact your health, creating ideal conditions for allergens and mold to thrive. Whether it’s a sticky summer day or a persistently damp basement, managing humidity is key for maintaining a comfortable, safe, and healthy home. Learn how to lower humidity in your home with these helpful tips.
Signs of High Humidity
High humidity in a home can lead to discomfort, health risks, and damage to your property if left unchecked. Identifying the warning signs early can help you take steps to lower humidity levels and maintain a balanced indoor environment. Here are some common signs of high humidity:
Condensation on Windows: Moisture or fog forming on windows, especially in the morning, indicates that indoor air holds too much water.
Musty Odors: A persistent damp smell in areas like the basement or bathrooms, is a strong indicator of mold or mildew growth, which could be caused by high humidity. Hire a local mold inspector if you're noticing these smells.
Mold and Mildew Growth: Black or green spots on walls, ceilings, or grout lines signal high moisture levels.
Warped Wood or Peeling Paint: Swollen wood furniture, floorboards, or peeling paint suggests that materials are absorbing excess moisture.
Increased Dust Mites: A spike in allergy symptoms could point to higher dust mite activity, as they thrive in humid environments.
Clammy Air or Damp Surfaces: A sticky feeling in the air or wetness on walls and furniture means the humidity is above the ideal level.
Slow-Drying Laundry: Clothes and towels taking longer to air dry indoors can indicate high humidity levels.
Water Stains or Discoloration: Dark patches or watermarks on ceilings and walls can be caused by condensation or leaks exacerbated by humidity.
"High humidity in your home creates an ideal environment for mold and bacteria to thrive, increasing the risk of respiratory issues and illnesses spreading among family members. It can also lead to structural damage, such as warped wood and peeling paint, while making the air feel sticky and uncomfortable. Managing humidity levels with proper ventilation and dehumidification helps protect your home and supports a healthier living environment."
—Ryan Osterkamp, Owner of Quality Comfort, Cincinnati, OH
1. Use Exhaust Fans
Run exhaust fans in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, especially after cooking or showering. These fans expel humid air outdoors and prevent it from accumulating inside.
2. Open Windows
When outdoor humidity is lower than inside, open your windows to promote airflow. Open windows exchange moist indoor air with drier outdoor air, reducing trapped moisture and refreshing your home.
3. Open Interior Doors
Keep interior doors open to allow air to flow freely from room to room. The airflow maintains consistent humidity levels and prevents moisture buildup.
4. Increase Air Circulation
Ceiling fans, standing fans, or box fans improve air circulation in rooms with high humidity. Moving air discourages moisture from settling on surfaces and distributes drier air.
5. Use a Dehumidifier
Set up a dehumidifier in damp rooms, such as basements or bathrooms. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air, making the space more comfortable and less conducive to mold and mildew growth. While you can buy dehumidifiers for each room, you could also invest in whole-house humidifiers. On average, whole-home humidifiers cost between $390 and $770.
6. Run the Air Conditioner
Air conditioners extract moisture from the air as part of the cooling process, lowering overall indoor humidity. Turn it on to lower your home's humidity.
7. Clean HVAC Filters
Regularly clean or replace HVAC filters to maintain proper airflow. Clean filters prevent the system from overworking, which can otherwise lead to higher humidity levels and cause insufficient air circulation.
8. Seal HVAC Ducts
Inspect and seal air leaks in HVAC ducts using mastic sealant or aluminum tape. Properly sealed ducts prevent humid air from leaking into your home and ensure dehumidified air reaches areas efficiently.
9. Repair Leaks
Fix dripping faucets, leaking pipes, or roof leaks as soon as you find them. Addressing leaks prevents additional moisture from entering your home, which helps reduce humidity levels.
10. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Clear debris from gutters and downspouts and ensure they direct water away from your home. This prevents water from seeping into your foundation or basement, which can contribute to indoor humidity.
11. Seal Doors and Windows
Gaps around windows and doors can allow humid air to enter. Apply weatherstripping or caulk in these areas to reduce drafts.
12. Install Vapor Barriers
Place vapor barriers on basement floors or crawl spaces to block moisture from rising into your home from the ground and reducing humidity.
13. Cover Pots While Cooking
Cover pots and pans with lids while cooking to trap steam and reduce the amount of moisture released into the air. This prevents the kitchen from becoming a hotspot for humidity.
14. Use a Range Hood
Always turn on the range hood while cooking, especially when boiling water or frying. Range hoods capture steam and vent it outside, helping to maintain low humidity levels in the kitchen.
15. Limit Hot Showers
Hot showers generate steam that emits moisture into the air. Take shorter showers in colder water to minimize steam and prevent condensation.
16. Install Moisture-Absorbing Materials
Place silica gel or activated charcoal in damp-prone spaces such as closets, absorbing excess moisture from the air and maintaining a drier environment.
17. Add Humidity-Reducing Houseplants
Decorate your home with plants like aloe vera or lilacs to naturally absorb moisture from the air and maintain ideal indoor humidity levels.
18. Dry Clothes Outside
Hang wet clothes to dry outdoors on clotheslines instead of using indoor drying racks. This prevents the moisture from laundry from being released into the air.
19. Install Double-Glazed Windows
Upgrade to double-glazed windows, which provide better insulation and reduce condensation. This upgrade aids in maintaining a consistent indoor temperature and prevents excess moisture buildup.
20. Upgrade Insulation
High-quality insulation in walls, attics, and basements better regulates indoor temperature, minimizes condensation, and prevents outdoor humidity from getting into your home.
21. Improve Ventilation in the Basement and Crawlspace
Install vents or fans in basements and crawlspaces to promote airflow and expel moist air. Proper ventilation prevents dampness and reduces the risk of mold growth.
22. Ensure Proper Drainage
Ensure that the ground slopes away from your home’s foundation and that drainage systems function properly. This prevents water from pooling near your home, which can contribute to high indoor humidity.
Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to aloe vera and lilac, other effective humidity-reducing plants include peace lilies, Boston ferns, English ivy, spider plants, and lucky bamboo. These plants thrive in humid environments and can naturally lower moisture levels. Place them in areas prone to dampness for the best results.
To lower humidity quickly, run a dehumidifier or your home's air conditioner or turn on exhaust fans to extract moisture. These methods can quickly and effectively bring your home's humidity levels to a comfortable condition. However, you should consistently practice humidity-reducing tasks to maintain proper indoor humidity levels.
Mold grows in areas with humidity levels above 60%, but ideal conditions for mold growth occur when humidity is between 70% and 90%, especially in poorly ventilated areas. To prevent mold growth, aim to maintain indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% using dehumidifiers, proper ventilation, and temperature control. Regularly check your home's humidity with a hygrometer to help you monitor and avoid conditions conducive to mold.
