“It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” It’s a southern saying we hear often in the sizzling summer. It’s true though: humidity makes summer feel hotter than it actually is.
Not only will you feel hotter, but excess humidity in your home can cause a host of problems like
- Mold and mildew growth
- Wood rot
- Peeling or blistering of paint
- Condensation
- Insect infestation
But you don’t have to put up with excess humidity in your home. Here are 3 cheap, natural ways you can rid your home of humidity so that you can enjoy your summer and protect your home.
- Use fans and windows to circulate fresh air in your home
When you can, open up a window and use your fans to keep fresh air moving throughout your home--especially in damp areas.
The main reason your basement and other rooms in your home are so humid is because water vapor amasses and has nowhere to go. Circulating the air and giving it somewhere to go via window or vent will lower humidity in your home tremendously.
- Take cold or shorter showers
Long, hot showers will not only make your home more humid, but it’ll increase your water heating bill as well.
Take cold and/or shorter showers to decrease the humidity in your home and lower your water heating bill.
- Let your houseplants enjoy the sunshine outside
Your inside houseplants can create a lot of moisture and humidity in your home, especially during the summer, through a process called transpiration. Transpiration is when water evaporates into the atmosphere from the leaves and stems of the plant.
So, since it’s nice outside, move the plants outside. This will not only reduce humidity in your home, but they’ll also get the fresh air and sunshine they crave.
Other dehumidification options
While these are some inexpensive and natural ways to dehumidify your home, if you want consistent dehumidification and don’t mind paying for it, consider getting a quality dehumidifier.
There are two types:
- Portable-- Can dehumidify an entire room.
- Whole-home-- Is installed alongside your heating and cooling system to dehumidify all the air that goes through your return vents.
To learn more about dehumidifiers, ask one of our experts for help.
