Standard household fans do not actually remove moisture from the air. Instead, they rely on air circulation to speed up evaporation and disperse humidity. To truly extract moisture from the air, you need specialized appliances like Dehumidifiers or an Air Conditioner.
So, why is your house so humid, and what causes high humidity indoors? The short answer is that more moisture is being trapped indoors than your HVAC system can remove. Air leaks, poor ventilation, or an air conditioning system that's not working correctly can all exacerbate the issue.
Rock salt: Place bowls of rock salt in damp areas like closets or basements. It draws in moisture and requires no energy. Charcoal briquettes: Like rock salt, they absorb humidity and can be placed discreetly around the home.
Fans are a cost-effective option for removing light excess moisture from basements through increased air circulation and evaporation. They work by pushing stale, damp air around the space using either ceiling or floor-mounted models.
Fans can circulate dust and pollen in the air, which may trigger allergies in some people. The fan blades themselves are another unwelcome source of dust. If you inhale these allergens, you could experience symptoms, such as runny nose, itchy throat, sneezing, watery eyes, or breathing difficulties.
But it's important to be aware of possible side effects of sleeping with a fan on. For some, fans can cause congestion, dry eyes or dry skin, or worsen asthma symptoms. You can lessen possible side effects by keeping your home clean, using a humidifier, or setting a timer on the fan.
How to Lower Humidity Indoors
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%.
Fans help to circulate air throughout the room, creating a cooling effect and helping to maintain a comfortable temperature. Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, remove excess moisture from the air, which can make the room feel cooler and more comfortable.
Let's jump right in!
Signs of High Humidity
Condensation on Windows: If you notice water droplets on the inside of your windows, it's a sign that there's too much moisture in the air. Mold Spots: Mold loves damp environments. If you're spotting mold in corners, on walls, or in the bathroom, your home's humidity is too high.
Rock Salt: Rock salt is readily available and absorbs moisture effectively. It's ideal for larger spaces and can be reused multiple times after drying. Baking Soda: Baking soda is cheap and easy to find. It's great for small areas and helps neutralize odors while absorbing moisture.
Most houses in the US are full of air leaks. So if you've never had your house sealed, there's a high chance that the open gaps and seams in your house are a major contributing factor to your humidity problem (especially if your house is older). Want to check for sure? It's easy to do a DIY air leak check in your home.
Initial drying: When using a dehumidifier in a damp space for the first time, run it continuously for 24 to 48 hours on a low humidity setting (around 30%) to thoroughly dry the area. Regular use: To maintain a comfortable humidity level (30–50%), running the dehumidifier for 8 to 12 hours per day is often sufficient.
A relative humidity range of 30% to 50% is ideal for sleep because it maximizes physical comfort while minimizing health risks and protecting your home's interior. Most experts agree that hovering around 40% to 45% RH is the ultimate sweet spot.
Temperature is key
Humidity is dependent on temperature as warm air holds more moisture than cold air. Relative humidity changes as rapidly as the temperature does. If the temperature rises, the relative humidity drops. For this reason, heat is often used to keep the humidity down.
If there is a reading of 100%, it means that the air is 100% saturated with water vapor. It is incapable of holding any more water vapor. To explain it even further, if the air is at 100% humidity, it is not going to allow for sweat to evaporate into the air. This makes it feel as though it is hotter than it really is.
The ideal amount of humidity is around 30-50%. If your house's humidity is consistently higher than 50% or lower than 30%, you could be putting your home — and your health — at risk. If you have too much humidity in your home, you could face harmful mold and mildew growth, and even structural damage.
Our next natural dehumidifier DIY-hack is to use baking soda. Remove dampness by filling a small bowl with baking soda and placing it in the room you'd like to dehumidify. Although it's not as effective as rock salt in combating humidity, it's good for enclosed spaces where moisture is an issue.
No. Air purifiers do not dry out the air. Air purifiers are designed to filter airborne pollutants—like dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, and some microbes—without removing moisture from the air. Dehumidifiers are appliances built to lower humidity; air purifiers are not.
When comparing average sized, or average capacity dehumidifiers versus average sized air conditioner units, it is almost always cheaper to run the dehumidifier. Although energy efficiency has improved through the years, air conditioners use more watts of energy to operate.
All you need is vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of soap to recreate my grandmother's dust-repellant spray recipe. The coating the spray leaves helps more dust propel off surfaces and onto the floor, which means you'll have to clean those hard to dust places a little less.
Lay the cloth over the fan. As it blows the air out, it'll circulate through the cloth and the air will feel cooler. Make sure that the cloth cannot get caught on the fan in any way at all––if this is a possibility, don't use this method. Replace the cloth frequently, as they dry out.
Running a fan all night can trigger allergies, cause stiffness, dry out your eyes, or leave you feeling congested by morning. Cooling mattress pads and temperature-control bed systems offer a more effective way to stay cool and comfortable through the night.