How to Achieve Ultimate Moisture Control In Your Home

While we love the summer weather here in Niceville, we could do without the ultra high humidity. Not only does it mess up your hair, it also makes the already hot weather feel absolutely unbearable! While we may not be able to do anything about the humidity outside, we can recommend a few ways to achieve ultimate moisture control in your home. Reduced indoor humidity levels can save you money on your energy bills, keep you comfortable inside your home, and provide a number of other benefits to your family.

Do I need to remove all the humidity from my home?

The hard truth is, you DO need humidity in your home for a comfortable atmosphere, it just has to be controlled to a certain level. Most HVAC contractors will recommend keeping your humidity levels between 40-50% for optimal comfort. With too little humidity you may develop a cold, dry skin, a sore throat, and even damage to the foundational aspects inside your home like cracked floorboards. 

Issues can arise vice versa as well. When moisture levels are too high, you may begin noticing dust mites, fungal growth, and hot and cold spots throughout your home. You could also experience trouble sleeping and increased allergy attacks. It’s important to get your home’s humidity levels just right!

Variable Speed HVAC

Humidity levels are easily and consistently regulated with new technology in variable speed HVAC systems. These systems constantly run at speeds between 3-100% to move air around your home at all times, heating up or cooling down depending on the thermostat’s set temperature. This constant air flow and optimal temperature control keep moisture levels from getting too high or low at any given time. Gulfshore Air offers these systems at affordable prices with special financing options (with approved credit).

How do I know the humidity level in my home?

There are a few ways you can measure humidity levels in your home! Most thermostats will have a section on their display which shows humidity levels in your home. If you want to go one step further, a humidistat is a device which is designed to monitor humidity levels in a space. Either of these devices are a great way to keep track of your humidity levels. If you invest in a whole-home dehumidifier, these systems will have built in sensors for measuring the levels of moisture as well. There are many different options! 

What’s the difference between a store bought dehumidifier and a whole-home system?

Store bought dehumidifiers won’t quite cut it when it comes to lowering the humidity levels in your home. At best, store bought dehumidifiers will reduce humidity in one specific area of your home, like your bedroom. They also usually are not built to provide adequate humidity levels; rather, they are just built to remove as much moisture from the air as possible.

Whole-home dehumidifiers work with your HVAC system to adequately regulate the humidity of your entire home. All of the return air which flows back into your HVAC system from your home will pass through the dehumidifier. So, if moisture levels in your home are too high, a whole-home dehumidifier will remove enough of the moisture from the air to get humidity levels back under control. Obtaining proper humidity levels will result in cleaner, healthier air for your whole family. 

What else can I do to lower indoor humidity levels?

We’re so glad you asked! While a whole-home dehumidifier is the best way to get moisture levels under control in your house, there are a few small fixes you can make around your home that will help as well. 

• Add caulking and weatherstripping to prevent any additional outdoor humidity from entering inside your home.
• Open interior doors for proper air circulation throughout your home. Keep windows and doors to the outside closed. 
• Add insulation to cold water pipes.
• Upgrade to a variable speed HVAC system. These systems can operate at a lower capacity, and regulate the humidity of your home’s air. 
• Make good use of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans, especially while cooking or showering. 
• Run ceiling fans in occupied rooms.

We Hope These Tips Help

We hope you can use your newfound knowledge to reduce humidity levels in your home, but if you have questions, give Gulfshore Air a call at (850) 897-6540. Gulfshore Air is your local American Standard Customer Care Dealer and Niceville’s #1 choice for heating and air conditioning services. 

Feel free to email us at [email protected] with any questions or inquiries about your HVAC system. Be sure to visit us on Facebook and Instagram for more helpful home tips!