If your house is feeling too humid, there are many possible reasons there could be more humidity than there is supposed to be.
Climate can contribute to high humidity in a home.
If it’s humid outside, chances are it’s going to be muggy inside a home. The changing seasons and temperature can be significant factors for rising indoor humidity levels and the main culprit for an uncomfortable environment. Simple activities that you do everyday can affect the humidity levels by adding more moisture to the air. Cooking and running the dishwasher can add more water vapor to the air in the kitchen. Long, hot showers add a lot of moisture to the bathroom. Installing exhaust fans can help with lowering humidity levels. An interior plumbing leak from a bathroom or kitchen sink can cause increased moisture in the air. It’s important to check pipes often for cracks and corrosion. When it comes to your AC unit in your home, bigger isn’t always better. An oversize window or central AC unit may be the reason for excessive moisture in a home. The evaporator coil found inside the AC unit acts as a dehumidifier and pulls humidity from the air as it runs. If the unit is too large, it may cool a room or home too quickly, running for only 10 to 15 minutes on a hot day before it abruptly shuts down. A longer runtime is needed to dehumidify a home correctly. Humidity can come up through the soil underneath the foundation of your home. This is called rising damp. Basements can be humid since they are often poorly insulated and don’t have windows, and this can compound any issues. If you live in a climate with excessive rain, ensuring gutters and downspouts work correctly and rainwater is directed away from the house can keep moisture out.