Living in a coastal community like Charleston has its perks, but one downside is the high humidity. Moisture doesn’t just come from the balmy ocean air outdoors. Indoor activities like cooking and cleaning pump even more water vapor into the air. As the indoor humidity rises, you may experience problems with biological growth, dust mites, or structural damage. To protect your home and your health, keep the relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent.
How to Tell if Your House Is Too Humid
When you walk into an overly humid home, you’ll notice that the air feels damp and clammy. Humid air is sticky, and worst of all, it causes numerous problems around the house, including the following.
- Musty odors
- Peeling paint
- Window condensation
- Pest activity or dust mites
- Worsening allergy symptoms
- Warping or rotting wood
- Visible biological growth
Strategies for Managing Indoor Humidity
We can recommend several strategies for controlling excess moisture. If your problem is not related to a plumbing leak, grading issue or structural defect, one of these solutions might work for you.
- Use exhaust fans to remove heat and moisture when cooking, cleaning or bathing. Make sure that dryers and other appliances are properly vented.
- Air conditioners remove up to 20 gallons of moisture daily. During your spring heat pump or AC tune-up, have your Acute Heating & Cooling technician clean the condensate drain to prevent clogs.
- Whole-house HVAC dehumidifiers can be added to your existing ductwork. These systems remove approximately 10 gallons of humidity per day without affecting the temperature like an air conditioner would.
Depending on the cause of your home’s moisture troubles, a simple heat pump or AC tune-up might be enough to restore your comfort. However, chronic dampness could be caused by an oversized air conditioner that cools your home before it’s fully dehumidified. Issues like this may require a more involved solution. To discuss your concerns with our experts or to learn more about our range of HVAC dehumidifiers, call Acute Heating & Cooling today!