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.
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.
Humans release a lot of moisture as they sleep both from the skin and also as they breathe. As this warm wet air meets the cold glass of the window condensation will start to form as droplets of water on the window. Open the trickle vents on your double glazed windows, to allow the dry outside air into the bedroom.
Why Some Rooms Are More Humid Than Others. Several factors influence the humidity levels of a room, including weather, ventilation, design and activity. A room with poor ventilation, like no windows or blocked air vents, may have a hard time getting fresh, cool air, so it may be more humid.
High humidity can cause problems in your home if relative humidity regularly exceeds 60%. When the air contains water vapor above that level, mold and mildew start to grow, while excess moisture can cause rot, damaging your belongings.
Opening up the windows and doors is one of the easiest ways to dehumidify rooms. This will not only let in the fresh air but it will also improve the air circulation in the room. You should turn the ceiling fans on as the breeze from the fans remove excess moisture in the air and bring down the humidity levels.
Using drying agents like silica gel, desiccant dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air by forcing it through water-absorbing gel packs. These systems are typically less heavy and quieter than the refrigerant types, and one big benefit is that desiccants work equally well in cold temperatures.
The size of the room, the humidity level, and the extent of the water damage are some of the variables that affect how long a dehumidifier takes to dry out a room. A dehumidifier typically needs between 24 and 72 hours to completely dry out a room.
Baking soda absorbs moisture, so it can help dehumidify your house. As a bonus, it's very cheap. Pour it into bowls, and cover them each with a thin cloth. Put them in various rooms around your house.
Rock salt is another great (and cheap) option for removing moisture from the air. To make a no frills rock salt dehumidifier, you're going to need rock salt and two buckets. Pop some holes in the first bucket and place it inside your second bucket.
DampRid's Odor Eliminator products don't just mask odors, they eliminate them by breaking up their molecular structure. And DampRid can help protect your home against moisture damage, solving many mold, mildew and odor problems. With DampRid, Home life gets easier; indoor air quality gets healthier.
Yes it is perfectly safe to sleep in the same room as a dehumidifier. If you are particularly interested in a dehumidifier for the bedroom the noise level will be particularly important to you.
No, your dehumidifier should not have to run constantly to regulate the air humidity. An optimal humidity level to shoot for is between 30 and 50 percent.
Can I leave the dehumidifier running at night? Yes, we recommend using a dehumidifier 24hrs, however, be aware that there will always be a noise generated from the machine when it is operating.
DampRid is a disposable, non-electric dehumidifier; it works by absorbing excess moisture from the air. DampRid contains a desiccant, a substance that sustains a dry environment by absorbing moisture. Unlike other dehumidifiers, a desiccant dehumidifier removes moisture without the need for electricity or batteries.
Baking Soda
Since it is so inexpensive and easy to find at the store, it makes for a great choice. Though baking soda is a great option for a dehumidifier, it only works in a small area. You may find some success with using it in a larger room, but this method is ideal for a smaller space, like a cabinet.
Get a Dehumidifier
The most surefire way to reduce indoor humidity is to get a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers fit right inside your furnace air handler, and removes moisture from the air as it passes through.
When it is warm, and you are looking for an effective yet inexpensive way to reduce humidity, ceiling fans are a straightforward solution. When you turn on a ceiling fan, the breeze evaporates excess moisture, which makes you feel cooler.
The World Health Organisation guidelines suggest 21 degrees in a living room and 18 degrees in the bedrooms, falling lower at night and when you are out. You don't need to keep your home at these temperatures all the time, but you should aim to bring it up to these temperatures at least some of the day.
However, it's important to know when to turn the unit off. Once temperatures drop to around 65 degrees, it's best to turn the dehumidifier off.
If you're concerned about spending too much on your electricity bill, you can try calling your energy company and asking about the “best times.” Usually, the best times to run your unit, that will save you money, is between 10 pm and 7 am — this is when less people are consuming energy, which drives down the rates.
To achieve the highest energy efficiency, run a dehumidifier for at least 12 hours a day. This will allow you to remove moisture from the air without racking up the energy costs.
Verifying Moisture Problems in the Home
One of the best ways to get quantifiable measurements of moisture in the home is to use a moisture meter! There are many different types of moisture meters on the market.
You can purchase a hygrometer to measure humidity levels, or you can try this simple test for humidity. Put a few ice cubes in a glass and place the glass in the room with low humidity. Leave it alone (and stay out of the room) for a few minutes. When you return, look for water droplets on the outside of the glass.