Excess humidity in your home creates a muggy, uncomfortable environment that takes longer for your air conditioner to cool. What's more, all that extra moisture can be conducive to mold growth, which can pose risks to your indoor air quality. Fortunately, there are 3 easy ways you can lower the moisture levels in your home's air so that you can reach optimum indoor relative humidity (between 30 and 50 percent).
1. Let your AC run periodically.
If you know you'll be away from home for a while, don't make the mistake of shutting off your air conditioner altogether. Adjust your thermostat settings to let the system run every so often. During the cooling process, your air conditioner's evaporator coil removes moisture from your home's air, reducing its humidity. Another bonus of letting your AC run periodically is that your home will have less dramatic temperature fluctuations, which means your AC won't have to spend as much energy to keep your home comfortable.
2. Avoid using appliances or appliance settings that increase humidity.
Your dishwasher can add a lot of moisture and heat to your home’s air while it dries your dishes. Avoid this by changing its settings to the “non-heated” dry cycle. Also, instead of using your clothes dryer, line-dry your clothes in the sun outdoors. While you can line-dry your clothes indoors, this also tends to make your home’s air muggier.
3. Use the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom.
The exhaust fan over your stove isn’t just for smells--it’s also a great way to reduce the moisture released from tasks like boiling water and sauteing. Use your kitchen’s exhaust fan while cooking and for fifteen minutes or so afterward. Likewise, use your bathroom’s exhaust fan while bathing and showering and for 30 minutes afterward to eliminate that steaminess in the air.
If you're looking to measure and improve the quality of the air inside your home, choose Rescue Air and Plumbing for professional assistance. Call us today at (972) 201-3253.