Why Is My House So Humid?

Why Is My House So Humid?
5 min read
10 January 2023

Humidity, or the amount of moisture in the air, is an important factor in how comfortable and healthy our homes are. High humidity levels in homes can cause a wide range of health issues such as headaches, respiratory problems and even mold growth. It is therefore important to understand the causes of high humidity in order to take steps to reduce it and keep your home comfortable.

Overview of Causes of High Humidity in Homes

There are several common causes of high humidity levels in homes, including poor ventilation, leaky pipes or poorly installed gutters, poor insulation, excessive indoor moisture sources (such as plants, cooking, and bathing), lack of dehumidification equipment, weather conditions (such as high temperatures and humidity), condensation from cold surfaces, elevated levels of outdoor air pollution and improperly sealed windows and doors.

Common Causes of High Humidity in Homes

  1. Poor Ventilation – Poor ventilation is one of the main causes for excessive moisture levels inside a home. Without proper ventilation the air within a house cannot move freely causing trapped moisture to remain stagnant. This can be caused by blocked vents or closed windows.
  2. Leaky Pipes or Poorly Installed Gutters – Leaking pipes or poorly installed gutters can cause water to seep into walls and floors creating extra moisture within a home which will eventually evaporate into the air increasing the overall level of humidity.
  3. Poor Insulation – If a home doesn’t have proper insulation it will be unable to hold heat which could result in excess condensation on cold surfaces like windows or pipes making them become damp over time leading to increased humidity levels inside a home.
  4. Excessive Indoor Moisture Sources – Plants, cooking and bathing all produce large amounts of moisture which if allowed to stay inside without adequate ventilation will serve to increase humidity levels significantly over time due to evaporation into the air from these sources .
  5. Lack Of Dehumidification Equipment – Without specialized dehumidification equipment like whole-home dehumidifiers it can be difficult for homeowners to reduce their indoor humidity levels thus leading to elevated levels for extended periods. Humidifier can cause serious fatal in that situation.
  6. Weather Conditions – High temperatures combined with high relative humidity outdoors can cause more water vapor than usual from outside entering through open windows or doors thus adding additional moisture which increases indoors humidity levels .
  7. Condensation From Cold Surfaces – Cold surfaces like windows or metal pipes located near warm air sources act as condensers that absorb surrounding moist air producing droplets on their surface creating damp places where mold can easily develop over time if not taken care off properly .
  8. Elevated Levels Of Outdoor Air Pollution – Outdoor pollutants such as smog particles are also more likely to enter indoors when there is poor ventilation leading towards higher than average indoor relative humidities that should be avoided at all costs .

Ways To Reduce Humidity In The Home

1- Install A Dehumidifier Or Purchase A Home Humidistat - Dehumidifiers help remove excess moisture from the air within your home while humidistats allow you monitor actual indoor relative humidities so you can take corrective action when needed . 

2- Increase Ventilation By Opening Windows And Doors Regularly - Properly ventilating your house by opening windows and doors regularly allows fresh outside air come into contact with stale interior ones thus reducing overall indoor relative humidities quickly.  

3- Make Sure Your Home Is Well Insulated - Good insulation helps limit heat exchange between exterior walls and warm internal areas making sure less water vapor accumulates during colder days with higher outdoor humidities .

4- Invest In Weather Stripping Around Doors And Windows - Weather stripping helps prevent drafts coming through cracks around doors and windows that could potentially bring hot moist outdoor air increasing interior relative humidities faster than desired .

5- Use Fans To Circulate Air Throughout The House - Using fans will help circulate interior stale warm moist air away from walls and ceilings preventing condensation on cold surfaces creating living spaces with less unwanted elevated relative humidities .  

Conclusion

Humidity plays an important role in how comfortable we feel inside our homes however having too much humidity indoors poses serious health risks that should not be overlooked since they could lead towards long term problems like mold growth if ignored for too long . To prevent this it is necessary for homeowners take preventive measures such as installing dehumidification equipment , increasing ventilation , insulating efficiently , investing on weather stripping around openings plus using fans strategically so they create an environment with reasonable low relative humidities beneficial both for our comfort and health overall.

In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the author by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.
sadaf hasan 326
Joined: 2 years ago
Comments (0)

    No comments yet

You must be logged in to comment.

Sign In / Sign Up