If you’re experiencing uncomfortable, Hot, sticky air, extra moisture, and mold problems, all of these result from home humidity issues.

 

Ideally, the humidity in your home should stay between 30 and 50 percent. Discomfort and indoor air quality issues arise when that humidity level rises above 50 percent. Issues such as mold, dust mites, cockroaches, and water damage result from high humidity.

 

Can’t figure out why your home is too humid? Consider the following four most common culprits.

Ho

me Is Too Humid

You Take Long Showers

 

When you shower, does the bathroom fill up with so much steam that the room gets cloudy? You’re causing humidity problems for yourself if you answered yes.

 

When your bathroom has no windows and no vents, your only options are to shower with the door open or take shorter showers. For a long-term solution, get a vent installed in the ceiling that you can turn on with a flip of a light switch to help keep the humidity in the bathroom at bay.

 

 

You Don’t Vent the Kitchen

 

Cooking with the stove and using the dishwasher adds plenty of humidity to the air in the kitchen. When you fail to vent the humid air out of the kitchen as you use these appliances, this humid air damages parts of your kitchen.

 

Not all kitchens come with ventilation systems above the stove. If you lack kitchen ventilation, you’ll need to open the windows and use the ceiling fan while you’re cooking and when you open the dishwasher after a running cycle.

 

 

Your HVAC System Needs Maintenance

 

Your air conditioner has a built-in dehumidifier. When the system is running well, the unit handles home dehumidification.

 

When your air conditioner hasn’t had maintenance in a while, small problems add up to big issues that can prevent it from running at its peak efficiency. Lack of efficiency in the parts within your HVAC system affects all aspects of how the system cools your home, including how it dehumidifies.

 

Sometimes, the problem is as simple as a dirty air filter. At other times, you may need to replace a major broken part inside the compressor. In any case, you’ll need a technician to help you solve the problems.

 

 

Your Air Conditioner Is the Wrong Size

 

HVAC technicians run complex load calculations before installing central air conditioning units in homes. To create the ideal indoor humidity level and temperature, your HVAC system’s load must match the size of your home. Systems that are too large cause humidity issues, since the air conditioner does not stay on long enough to remove humidity from the air. You’re left with chilly, clammy air that retains too much moisture and leaves you feeling uncomfortable in your home.

 

To find out if your air conditioner is the wrong size, call a reputable HVAC technician to take a look. Depending on the technician’s report, you may need to invest in a new HVAC system for your home.

Home Is Too Humid

This list is not exhaustive, and your humidity problems may have more than one source. Tackle what you can on your own, and if the humidity doesn’t get better, you’ll need to call a professional. A whole-home dehumidifier is one solution when nothing else seems to work.

4 Reasons Why Your Home Is Too Humid and How to Fix It