When the air in your home contains too much moisture, it can cause both health problems and damage to your home. Here’s how excess humidity affects indoor air quality in your Hoover, Alabama, home and what you can do to prevent the problems associated with it.
Humidity Can Damage Your Home
High humidity levels can damage your Hoover home. Common signs of excess humidity include peeling wallpaper, bubbling paint, or wooden floors or furniture that start to warp. Even electronic equipment can start to malfunction as a result of moisture creeping in. If you notice a musty smell or spot condensation, consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier, or at the minimum a room dehumidifier.
Humidity Causes Health Problems
Indoor air quality becomes compromised when humidity levels rise above 50%. When the air becomes heavy with moisture, your home becomes a breeding ground for dust mites, allergens, and bacterial growth. These particulates lead to respiratory issues like allergies and asthma and cause nose, ear, and throat irritation. It can also cause skin rashes when blocked pores can’t release sweat when during humid weather. Lower humidity levels prevent bacterial growth from thriving and an air purifier will help clear the air of pollutants.
Ways To Lower Humidity in Your Home
Controlling humidity is essential to a healthy home. Here are a few ways to lower humidity levels and improve the air quality in your home.
- Open doors and windows to allow cross-ventilation through your home or install a whole-house ventilation system.
- Schedule regular HVAC maintenance and have the ducts cleaned at least once a year. Duct cleaning will remove pollutants like dust, bacterial growth, and rodent droppings — all of which cause health problems.
- Use the exhaust fan on your stove when cooking and in the bathroom when taking a shower.
To assess your home’s indoor air quality, contact Total Comfort Heating and Air, LLC. today at (205) 386-2056. We will recommend the right product, like a dehumidifier or ventilator to help lower humidity and keep you and your family breathing easy.
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