3 Ways to Reduce the Humidity in Your Home

Every Floridian is well acquainted with humidity. Living in Southwest Florida, you find ways to deal with its inevitable presence as part of our tropical climate. Thankfully, you can regulate the humidity inside your home, giving you somewhere to escape to when it gets to be too much outdoors! FL Green Team has put together 3 ways you can reduce humidity within your home to make it more comfortable.

Kick on the AC!

Today’s air conditioning and HVAC systems are equipped to control humidity within our homes. Through filtering, they remove pathogens, dust, and moisture so your home maintains a comfortable temperature without disrupting the humidity balance you find most comfortable.

However, keep in mind that air conditioning units use moisture to regulate temperature. The colder you set your thermostat, the more moisture is needed to create your ideal temperature! Think of the condensation that builds on the windshield of your car when you turn on the AC on a hot day. The same goes for your home, but on a larger scale. If you like it chilly, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier to collaborate with your air conditioning or HVAC system.

Avoid Watering Plants Indoors During the Summer

After watering plants, you’ll often find they build a cloud of humid air. You’ll want to avoid building a mini tropical climate indoors by moving your plants outdoors during the summer. If your plants don’t like direct sunlight, try a shaded area in the lanai or open garage.

Don’t Forget to Ventilate

Air conditioning isn’t the only thing in the home that creates moisture. Whether you’re doing laundry, cooking dinner in the kitchen, taking a hot shower, or running the dishwasher, many appliances create humidity when they’re in use.

Make sure you ventilate your rooms when using these appliances. Most kitchens and bathrooms come with ventilation fans installed so you can regulate humidity while washing and cooking. For rooms that don’t have fans installed, you can open a door or window to let out damp air. Doing this will help cut back on mold as well!

The Key to Humidity is Monitoring It

No humidity is not the solution to comfort. It’s a delicate balance. Too little can leave your skin feeling dry and uncomfortable while too much can make you feel sticky and gross. The ASHRAE suggests you maintain a humidity range of 45% to 55%. This will not only help you maintain your comfort level, but also slim down your chances of harboring bacteria and allergens.

If you’re making an effort to maintain your indoor environment and you’re still struggling with humidity, then it may be time to call in a professional. FL Green Team services many communities in Southwest Florida, including Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties. So why not give one of our friendly professionals a call at 239.432.1500?