Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. The more humid it is, the higher the percentage of water vapor in the air in your place. This means that there are high levels of moisture in that environment, which can lead to mold growth and other health issues.
Humidity can be a huge problem inside the house. Not only can it lead to health issues, and mold growth, it can even cause structural damage. There are many causes for humidity inside your house, but here we will discuss some common ones to know what to look out for.
1. Drying Laundry Inside the House
If you are drying your clothes indoors, it can raise the humidity levels inside. This is because laundry acts as a wicking mechanism for water vapor from other sources in the environment (i.e., showering) and absorbs any ambient moisture to create more surface area of evaporation on clothing items.
One way you can combat this is by opening a window and using fans to ventilate the room. If you do hang up wet laundry inside your house, it’s important for you to be mindful of where you hang it. If you are hanging up wet laundry indoors, make sure that the clothes do not come into contact with surfaces such as walls or furniture. This will prevent mold formation on your home furnishings and save time from having to clean them later.
2. Leaks in the plumbing system
The water leaks in a structure’s plumbing system can cause significant humidity and moisture levels. This is because pipes leak when they are corroded, or there is some other problem with them; excess pressure on the pipe causes it to burst if you’ve had any work done on your house recently, then more than likely, this has something to do with the problem.
When the water leaks, it gets into other surfaces such as floors, walls, and ceilings, leading to a significant humidity level in your house. A leak is not always easy to spot because some are hidden behind walls, while others might be on top of ceilings or near sinks that you may never see unless there’s an issue. To spot the issue in a timely manner, you must have knowledge about how to check the various factors of humidity. Paradise Developments offers some expert tips that will help you be better prepared to deal with humidity problems inside your home.
3. Improper Ventilation
If the house has an improper exhaust system, that will cause a buildup of humidity inside your home, leading to mold and mildew on surfaces that are humid or wet, like carpets in bathrooms. The best way to solve this problem is by installing an energy-efficient venting system with a high-grade filter.
A typical and inexpensive fix is to install a vent fan, also known as an exhaust fan. This will circulate the air in your house so that cool, moist outside air won’t be entering indoors at night through windows or doors when you’re trying to sleep. If there’s already one installed on your home, it may need replacement if it has water stains on it.
4. Coastal Air
People living along the coast may have more windows or open doors due to sea breezes that need to be replaced with dryer air in order for inhabitants to feel comfortable inside their homes. Coastal regions are also susceptible to hurricanes, which cause flooding and wind damage. Coastal regions may benefit from installing a dehumidifier to help remove excess moisture in the air.
5. Regions With High Rainfall
Heavily vegetated areas and regions with high rainfall have more humidity than dryer areas. The water vapor in the air is pulled from the ground by plants through transpiration, which also releases some soil moisture into the atmosphere. Trees are a major source of atmospheric moisture due to their ability to release large quantities of liquid water into the environment through their leaves.
6. Renovation Work In The House
Excess humidity levels can be caused by renovations in the house. One of the most common causes of a higher humidity level is when new carpeting has been installed, and there’s no ventilation in place to dry it out.
This excess moisture will then build up inside, increasing your chances of experiencing mold growth and poor air quality within the house. For example, if you’ve put up new drywall in your bathroom, you will notice that the humidity levels increase because it blocks the airflow from entering.
7. Dampness in the Building Structure
Dampness is a common home problem that’s not visible to the eye but still affects your indoor air quality. Dampness can come from inside or outside of the building, and it increases humidity in homes. Dampness on the inside of your walls can come from condensation and poor ventilation.
The moisture will need to dry out before it’ll dissipate, so you should open windows if possible for a few days while turning off humidifiers. For dampness caused by moist outdoor air entering, you should install a barrier to block the air.
8. Gas Heater
Gas heating systems have a high potential for indoor air moisture. The exhaust pipes and vents often leak toxic chemicals into the home, which can lead to respiratory problems in humans with asthma or allergies. This is especially true when gas heaters are leaking natural gas without burning it off properly (often called “flaring”). Natural gas contains a lot of water vapor, which can have negative effects on indoor air quality.
9. Cooking
Cooking indoors can increase humidity levels because of the release of water vapor from cooking. This is a particular concern for people with allergies or respiratory issues, which may be sensitive to airborne mold spores and other microorganisms lofted into the air by hot steam rising from pots, pans, and ovens. Cooking also releases particulates in gas form that can cause respiratory problems.
10. Showering
Showering is one of the most common causes of humidity inside a house. The warm moist air that comes out of your shower creates an environment perfect for mold and bacteria to grow in, which can lead to many health problems such as asthma or allergies. In order to combat this issue, you should keep your bathroom door closed when taking showers so that the air remains inside.
The Bottom Line
Water droplets are usually not a sign of humidity. If you notice condensation on the inside or outside of your windows in winter, it indicates high relative humidity and heat in the home. It is important to address the cause of humidity inside the house in a timely manner. Protective steps at the right time can help prevent the health of your family and your house.
