Controlling the Humidity Levels in your Home to Prevent Water Damage

High humidity causes condensation that can gather on your windows and walls.

As the temperatures begin to rise in the early days of summer, the heat will often be paired with another condition that causes discomfort, humidity.  Heat and humidity seem to always go hand in hand in some areas of the U.S. and humidity does more than just make us uncomfortable, it can cause several issues inside a home or building.  The humidity levels are determined by the amount of moisture in the air and when it is humid within a home or building, condensation gathers on surfaces and objects which can lead to water damage or mold growth.  The following tips will help you control the humidity levels in your home this summer to prevent water damage.
Effective Humidity Control

There are many factors that can result in high humidity levels in your home from humid weather conditions to cooking, showering, and other daily activities.  This makes it important to control your indoor humidity to prevent water damage and make your home more comfortable during the summer months.  You can provide effective humidity control with these tips:

• Make sure the humidity level in your home is always below 55 percent. You can measure the humidity using moisture meters that are available at an affordable price.
• Install exhaust fans in the high moisture areas of your home including the bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen if these areas do not already have fans. These fans can help take moisture out of the air and they must exhaust outside your home, not to the attic or basement, to be effective.
• Shorten your time in the shower and take cooler showers to reduce condensation.
• If you have houseplants, you may want to consider moving some outside because plants do not absorb as much moisture as they release.
• Running a dehumidifier in high moisture areas of the home is a great way to reduce indoor humidity.

Water Damage Caused by Indoor Humidity

High humidity is more likely in the summer because warm air holds in moisture better than cold air.  In the evenings when the temperature cools down, the air can no longer hold in the moisture and it gathers on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces as condensation.  Enough condensation can start to cause damage to the affected surfaces as drywall and wood are absorbent and allow the moisture to penetrate.  The consistent presence of condensation can also lead to mold growth as moisture is one of the main conditions that causes mold to thrive.  Mold can also cause significant damage to the affected surfaces while increasing the risk of related health effects.

If your home has high humidity levels, take these steps to control the indoor humidity to prevent even bigger problems like water damage or mold growth.  Cases in which excess humidity or condensation has caused significant damage should be referred to a local water damage restoration professional to restore the home and remove moisture with effective drying and dehumidification.  By effectively reducing the humidity levels in your home, you can avoid costly damage and enjoy a more comfortable living environment.

About Luke Armstrong

Expert in emergency fire and water restoration services, fire cleanup and water damage cleanup, mold removal, as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning services. Contributor to several restoration and cleaning blogs.