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Humidity levels play a big role in your home’s comfort. If humidity levels drop too low, you could develop dry, itchy skin and see an increase in static electricity. If they’re too high, it will force your AC to work harder, and you may even have difficulty sleeping. Ideally, indoor humidity levels should stay between 30% and 50%. Unfortunately, the humid subtropical climate in Browns Summit, NC, makes high indoor humidity a common problem. A whole-home dehumidifier can keep your home in the ideal range. Here are seven ways you can tell that you need a dehumidifier.
1. Window and Mirror Condensation
One of the telltale signs of high indoor humidity is frequent condensation on windows and mirrors. Condensation happens when warm, humid air comes into contact with a colder surface. Since glass doesn’t readily conduct heat, it remains colder than the surrounding air. This is the same phenomenon you might see after a shower or when you boil water in an open container. You have high indoor humidity if it’s happening spontaneously in your home.
2. Noisy Doors, Cabinets, and Floors
Excess humidity also causes wood to swell and warp. That can make your home’s doors and cabinets creak when you open and close them. It can also make floorboards squeaky when you step on them. High humidity is likely a culprit if your home develops those problems over time.
3. Mold and Mildew Growth
Damp, dark places are the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. You may encounter it in laundry areas, basements, and bathrooms. If your home has a mold or mildew problem elsewhere, it could indicate high indoor humidity. The first places to check are your home’s ceilings, corners, and walls. Mold and mildew may begin as unusual discoloration or look like small spots on those surfaces. It could also cause a musty smell in your home.
4. Respiratory Issues
Excess humidity in your home’s air also causes breathing difficulties and other respiratory problems. Humid air triggers a reaction in your lungs that leads to constricted airways. That forces your lungs to work harder to capture the oxygen your body needs. Plus, high humidity can lead to an increased dust mite population in your home. They’re a common allergen and may provoke sneezing, wheezing, or coughing.
5. HVAC Comfort Issues
High indoor humidity in the summer will interfere with your body’s natural cooling process. When you’re hot, your body responds by sweating, counting on evaporation to carry away heat. Air with too much moisture in it will stymie that evaporation. That will make you feel warmer, even at indoor temperatures that should be comfortable. In the winter, high humidity can interfere with air circulation in your home. It could prevent the heat from your HVAC from reaching you, making you feel colder than the temperature suggests.
6. Pest Infestations
High humidity in your home can attract pests like cockroaches, silverfish, and centipedes. Spiders also thrive in moist conditions. Excess moisture may also attract rats and mice. In extreme cases, wood rot caused by high humidity may even create openings for pests to enter your home. If you have abundant pests in your home, you could have a humidity problem.
7. Difficulty Drying Clothes
If you notice that your clothing takes forever to dry after a wash, high indoor humidity might be the reason. It might happen whether you use a drying rack or a clothes dryer. On a drying rack, you’re counting on the direct evaporation of moisture from your clothes into the surrounding air. A clothes dryer pulls in cooler air from your home and uses heat to speed up evaporation. If there’s already too much moisture in the air, there’s nowhere for the moisture in your clothes to go.
Consider a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
If any of the above signs of high indoor humidity apply to your home, consider a whole-house dehumidifier. Custom Air Inc. sells and installs high-quality dehumidifiers in Browns Summit. That’s just one of our comprehensive indoor air quality services. We also offer HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair. That includes geothermal and ductless mini-split systems. We can even offer financing options on approved credit for HVAC installations. So, if you’re interested in a whole-home dehumidifier in Browns Summit, contact Custom Air Inc. today!
