While springtime can be beautiful in Henderson, KY, it’s common to experience a lot of rainfall during this time of year. This can lead to high levels of relative humidity in your home. This humidity can decrease indoor air quality, leading to discomfort and an increase in allergy symptoms. Humid air also sets the stage for mold growth, which can cause brain fog, fatigue, inflammation, and dizziness. There are ways you can manage your indoor humidity during periods of spring rains in the Ohio River Valley.
Ideal Relative Humidity
We recommend maintaining indoor humidity between 35% and 50%, regardless of the time of year. If you allow humidity to rise above 50%, this can increase your risk of mold growth. High humidity can also cause your floors to warp, wood to rot, and furniture to grow mildew. Low levels of moisture can be just as damaging and irritating. Dry air can make your sinuses and skin feel inflamed, increasing allergy symptoms and illness. Dry air can cause flooring to crack and impact your home’s furnishings. Keep in mind that humidity is referred to as relative because warmer air can hold more moisture and cooler air holds less. The actual volume of water in the air will change throughout the year as temperatures change.
Reducing High Indoor Humidity Levels
If you determine that the relative humidity in your home is too high, there are ways to fix this problem. We recommend using a whole-house dehumidifier to remove moisture from your air as it circulates. This process will occur as your HVAC system runs, whether using your air conditioner or furnace. It’s important to note that your air conditioner will naturally reduce indoor humidity if you keep up with proper AC maintenance. However, you may not use this equipment much in the spring if the temperatures haven’t increased much.
You should also make sure that you’re using your exhaust fans regularly. These fans are likely located in your kitchen and bathrooms. These areas see a lot of humidity, especially when you’re cooking, bathing, or cleaning. This process will allow you to remove humidity from your home, replacing it with fresher air that may be less humid. Of course, this process may not be as productive as you would like if it’s raining outside and the outdoor humidity is high.
Assess all areas of your home to spot any holes, cracks, or gaps that may allow outside air to come indoors. Seal these spaces up with caulk, weatherstripping, or expanding spray foam. This process can also help boost the overall efficiency of your HVAC system by preventing it from running too frequently. This can save you money on your energy bills and reduce the need for frequent HVAC repairs.
If you plan on finishing your basement space and this area tends to be very humid, install a vapor barrier. This material will stop moisture from passing through your floors, walls, and other regions. It can help to keep your basement much drier. You can purchase vapor barriers in different forms, such as sheets and membranes. Professional installation is important to ensure you’re using the right product and that it will work as intended. A low permeability rate is essential to keeping moisture out, but you don’t necessarily want to go for as low of a rating as possible. There are other factors to consider when choosing the right product. Good drainage around your foundation is important, too. This water needs to be safely funneled away from your home through a system of storm drains or similar pipes.
Considering Indoor Air Quality
Your indoor air quality is very important to your health and well-being. Humid air has the potential to hold on to much more particulate matter than dry air. This can aggravate your allergies, leaving you sneezing, coughing, and scratching. By controlling the relative humidity in your home, you should notice that your home smells fresher. You should feel better when you’re home instead of seeing a flare-up of symptoms when you arrive at your residence.
OnTIME Service can help you determine the humidity level in your home. We can upgrade your thermostat to a smart variety with a built-in hygrometer. You can monitor this data remotely. We can also install a whole-house dehumidifier to improve your indoor air quality and help you deal with the rainy season in the Ohio River Valley. Contact our team today to schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable team.
