One of the easiest ways to keep your home comfortable and safe is to balance indoor humidity. Maintaining relative humidity between 35% and 50% in your living space helps to prevent many common air quality issues and keeps your home more comfortable. If your living space is too humid, you may notice musty odors or mold growth. Air that is too dry can lead to static electricity and air that feels colder than it is.
Using Exhaust Ventilation
In areas of the home where humidity tends to rise, use exhaust ventilation to remove moisture. Most homes have exhaust fans in bathrooms, which should run when you’re bathing or cleaning. Kitchen exhaust fans can remove humidity from cooking areas and eliminate odors. Consider installing exhaust fans in other areas, such as your attic.
Installing a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
You can target persistent dampness by using a whole-home dehumidifier. It installs onto your HVAC system and will remove moisture whenever your heating or cooling equipment runs. This can protect your indoor air quality and reduce the load on your air conditioning system. If you’re dealing with air that’s too dry, consider installing a whole-home humidifier.
Monitoring Your Indoor Humidity
A hygrometer or smart thermostat can show you your home’s humidity in real time. You can use this information to adjust settings on your HVAC system, dehumidifier, or ventilation equipment.
Humidity often varies from one room to the next. Make sure you’re assessing your entire home’s humidity before making upgrades or changes.
Sealing Cracks and Gaps
Keep outside moisture from coming indoors by sealing gaps and cracks around doors, windows, and attic spaces. Look around your foundation for cracks that may be allowing moisture to seep into your basement. Use caulk and weather stripping to maintain a tight home envelope.
Routine HVAC Maintenance
Schedule annual inspections and maintenance for your HVAC system. Dirty coils and worn components can impact airflow and contribute to moisture problems. Be sure to change your filter every 30 to 90 days as well.
Improving Airflow Throughout Your Home
Keep air moving through your home to distribute moisture evenly. Run ceiling fans to circulate air, setting them for clockwise motion in the winter and counterclockwise motion in the summer. Keep vents and registers open, so air can travel from your ducts to each living space. Don’t ever completely close off sections of your ducting using damper adjustments.
Ongoing monitoring, sufficient ventilation, and routine maintenance all help to prevent moisture problems and the air quality issues that come with them. A knowledgeable HVAC professional can help you achieve healthy, comfortable, and safe indoor air quality. If you live in Albuquerque, NM or a surrounding area and need humidifier services, make your first call to Ace Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical.