High Humidity In Home: What You Need To Know

In St. Charles, Missouri, it is common to have higher humidity levels in the home during the spring and summer months. We typically experience a lot of rain with mild temperatures in the spring and earlier summer months, which can cause the outdoor humidity to increase and also affect your home’s indoor comfort. There are several reasons why your home’s humidity may be higher than it should be, factors ranging from inadequate air conditioning all the way to water leaks or climate may be a factor. 

Factors Affecting Indoor Humidity

Inadequate air conditioning

Inadequate air conditioning can come in many different forms. If the air conditioning unit is too large, it can cool the home too quickly, not allowing time to properly dehumidify the space. If the air conditioning system is too small, it may not have the capability to dehumidify the space properly. If the air conditioning system is not working properly due to an issue, your home’s humidity may be affected as well. If you think your air conditioning system may be resulting in improper humidity levels in your home, it would be best to reach out to a professional at Stay Cool Climate Control in order to properly assess the issues. 

Climate and ventilation

Climate and ventilation also play a major factor in residential humidity levels. Depending on the climate of the region you live in, it can drastically affect the humidity levels. As a rule of thumb, homes in more southern climates will have a higher humidity, whereas homes in northern climates and dessert areas, will have lower humidity levels. The ventilation of the structure can also play an important role on how much moisture is allowed into the home’s thermal envelope. Homes that are tightly sealed and lack proper ventilation can trap moisture indoors, leading to high humidity levels. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms are especially prone to high humidity due to the use of water and steam. It is especially important to have these areas properly ventilated so there is not a buildup of excess humidity and possibly mold growth.  

Lifestyle

A few other things to consider with humidity in the home are lifestyle factors, such as plants and animals. Homes with lots of vegetation will naturally be more humid due to the overall amount of water required by the plants, in the plants, and around the plants. Certain animals, like fish, that require large fish tanks (more water in the home) can also increase humidity levels. There is nothing wrong with having these scenarios in your home, but we want to ensure the humidity levels still fall into the allowable ranges. If the levels are outside the allowable ranges, a local HVAC professional can certainly help get your home back to where it needs to be, before it creates other unwanted problems.  

It’s important to address high humidity issues in residential homes, as excessive moisture can lead to mold growth and damage to the home’s structure and furnishings. It can even contribute to health issues such as allergies, and respiratory problems. If you suspect that your home has high humidity levels, it’s best to consult with a professional HVAC technician or indoor air quality specialist for guidance. Stay Cool Climate Control offers many different solutions, such as whole-home humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and fresh air solutions. These accessories can help regulate the levels in your home and keep them within the allowable ranges.