Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
High humidity in a house can be caused by many things, but the biggest reason is poor ventilation—in other words, air isn't being circulated properly, which causes the air in your house to become stagnant and humid. The other major reason? Too much air exchange with the outside.
While damp cannot be reduced by opening windows, it can help to reduce the humidity levels in your property to make sure that condensation is not a common occurrence.
Too much humidity can cause condensation on windows, wet stains on walls and ceilings, moldy bathrooms, musty odor, and/or clammy feel to the air. Rot and structural damage can also result from extended periods of high humidity in your home. And, especially in the South, it can draw pests.
Research from the Building Science Corporation found that humidity of 70% or higher adjacent to a surface can cause serious damage to the property. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that relative humidity indoors should be maintained at 40-70%, while other experts recommend that the range should be 30-60%.
In the winter, indoor humidity drops to be between 25 percent and 35 percent. Keeping humidity levels higher than that will be difficult due to the cold climate. Contrary to popular belief the furnace does not dry out humidity. Cold air is dry, therefore, the air becomes drier as it finds its way into the house.
Cold air can't retain as much moisture, so high humidity is less common in chilly weather.
Use Baking Soda. Baking soda is also pretty effective at eliminating moisture. Place bowls of the stuff in any areas of your house where humidity is high. Baking soda works best in smaller rooms, so use charcoal or rock salt if you're working with a larger area.
Get a Dehumidifier
The most surefire way to reduce indoor humidity is to get a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers fit right inside your furnace air handler, and removes moisture from the air as it passes through. When that air reaches you, it's dry and cool – just the way we like to be in the summer.
If solving your moisture problem is something you'd like to do inexpensively, rock salt may be your answer. Because rock salt is hygroscopic it absorbs moisture from the air. If your plan is to get rid of the humidity in a damp basement, start with a 50-pound bag of sodium chloride to make your rock salt dehumidifier.
Humidity is how much water vapor is in the air. When we perspire, our bodies normally rely on air to get rid of the sweat that accumulates on the skin. This allows the body to cool down. When the humidity in the air is high, the warm moisture stays on our skin longer, making us feel even hotter.
When the air has a high moisture content, as is the case in humid weather, this sweat cannot evaporate, leaving our bodies feeling hot and sticky. To cool off, our bodies must work even harder. This results in excessive sweating, increased rate and depth of blood circulation and increased respiration.
Most expert sources agree that anything between 30-60% humidity is acceptable for a home environment. Anything lower will create problems, just as anything higher will create problems.
Ventilate Humid Areas
If your kitchen and bathroom don't have fans or air vents, open a window to let some fresh air in after you've showered or while you're cooking. Take shorter showers with the water temperature turned down as low as you can stand it.
The humidity level in a home has a direct impact on heating and cooling. The amount of moisture in the air influences our perception of how warm or cold we feel. Warm air holds more moisture than cold, so high humidity makes it harder to make a home feel comfortably cool on a hot summer day.
less than or equal to 55: dry and comfortable. between 55 and 65: becoming "sticky" with muggy evenings. greater than or equal to 65: lots of moisture in the air, becoming oppressive.
Best Humidity for Sleeping
The best relative humidity for sleeping and other indoor activities has been debated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best indoor relative humidity falls between 30% and 50%, and it should never exceed 60%. Other studies suggest 40% to 60% is a better range.
Using a hygrometer is the easiest way to measure the humidity in your home. The device measures humidity and temperature and is easy to use as a simple thermometer.
The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out. You don't need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.
All you need to do is take a glass of water and place four or five ice cubes in it. Take that glass of water and set it on a table in the room where you want to check the humidity level. Take five to ten minutes to let the magic work! Once the time has passed, check the glass.
High humidity can increase the amount of mucus in your nose and throat, causing congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and post-nasal drip.