Do you have too much moisture in your home? (2024)

FAQs

Can you have too much moisture in your house? ›

Research from the Building Science Corporation found that humidity of 70% or higher adjacent to a surface can cause serious damage to the property. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that relative humidity indoors should be maintained at 40-70%, while other experts recommend that the range should be 30-60%.

Symptoms include: Condensation on windows during the winter. Excessive mildew in the bathroom. Mold growing on interior surfaces (corner of a closet, kitchen or bathroom).

Ideal humidity – and signs of trouble

Every home is different, but a level between 30 and 40 per cent humidity is typically ideal for keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter, without leaving condensation on the windows. In the summer, that level can be higher, between 50 and 60 per cent.

Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.

Just like how it can absorb bad smells and odors from the refrigerator, baking soda can also absorb moisture from the air. Leave a box of baking soda on a window sill of any particularly humid room in your home, and it will help take away some of the humidity from the air.

Hygrometers are available at most hardware stores, and they're relatively simple to use. Just place the device in an area of your home that you'd like to measure, and wait for the reading to stabilize. Once it does, you'll have an accurate measurement of the humidity level in that particular room or area.

Sump Pumps

To remove the standing water from your home, you need a device that will soak up the water and put it elsewhere. This is what a sump pump does.

What product reduces moisture in the house? ›

Extracting moisture from the air to reduce the humidity level, dehumidifiers help you maintain the optimal humidity in your home to protect your home and health.

Place Bowls of Water on Registers

Place metal or ceramic bowls full of water on heat registers or radiators to push humidity into the air. You may be surprised by how much water is released during cold months when the furnace is going full tilt.

If you have too much humidity in your home, you could face harmful mold and mildew growth, and even structural damage. It can even grow in your carpets and can be hard to eliminate. On the flip side, excessively dry indoor air can lead to warping or cracking of wood furniture and building materials.

There are a couple of telltale signs like clammy skin, foggy windows, and a heavy yet warm atmosphere. But you can also smell mildew or musty odors when your home is much too humid, which comes from moisture buildup.

The Ice Cube Test for Humidity:*

Place two or three ice cubes into a glass, add water and stir. Wait three to four minutes. If moisture does not form on the outside of the glass, the air is too dry; you may need a humidifier. If water has condensed on the outside of the glass, the level of relative humidity is high.

What causes high humidity in a house? High humidity in a house can be caused by many things, but the biggest reason is poor ventilation—in other words, air isn't being circulated properly, which causes the air in your house to become stagnant and humid. The other major reason? Too much air exchange with the outside.

Open the blinds and drapes to let out moisture-laden air. Raise the air temperature in your home to decrease relative humidity. Turn on ceiling fans for more air circulation. Run exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom and leaving them running for 15 minutes or longer to clear out lingering moisture.