Set the thermostat to a consistent temperature, even at 78°F, to keep humidity levels in check. Invest in a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are designed to extract excess moisture from the air. Place one in areas like bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms for best results.
What's a low temperature? In the case of TOSOT dehumidifiers too low is 40°F or lower. If you need to dehumidify your space (most probably your basement), make sure that you turn on the heater to temperatures higher than 40°F. For best performance try temperatures around 60°F and higher.
That's why experts recommend you keep humidity levels in your home at 55% or lower. Mold needs 55% or higher humidity in order to grow. Also, remember that reducing humidity below 30% isn't a good idea, either. This can cause health problems, making your eyes nose and skin dry, and exasperate lung and skin conditions.
In most cases, set your thermostat's fan to “Auto” not “On” all the time. Especially in the hotter months, this setting will provide better dehumidification. When your fan is set to turn on automatically (i.e. “AUTO”), moisture is pulled from the air drains outside.
By activating "Dry Mode", the AC system dehumidifies the air, removing excess moisture and creating a more pleasant and breathable indoor environment. Enhanced Comfort: High humidity can negatively impact the perception of temperature, making it feel warmer than it actually is.
Generally, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours to significantly reduce humidity levels. For best results, the AC should run in cycles, with each cycle lasting at least 15-20 minutes. Short cycles may cool the air but won't run long enough to remove much moisture.
The temperature in your home
Keep doors of unheated rooms open to allow some heat into them. Ideally your home should be heated between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, but older people, babies and people who are less mobile may need it to be warmer.
Appropriate Ventilation
Ensure your house has enough airflow by opening doors and windows to allow a cross-breeze, installing ceiling fans, or employing exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to reduce dampness. This maintains ideal humidity levels by letting damp air escape and allowing fresh air to flow.
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.
Set the thermostat to a consistent temperature, even at 78°F, to keep humidity levels in check. Invest in a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are designed to extract excess moisture from the air. Place one in areas like bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms for best results.
The ideal relative humidity level in a home is between 30 and 50 percent. However, in the hotter summer months (and if you live in a more humid climate) you will want to aim for the 50 percent range to maintain a manageable energy bill.
Refrigerant dehumidifiers are most effective at typical room temperatures and their performance declines dramatically in cooler conditions. The common reason for this is the formation of ice on the metal cooling plates (coils). This freezing can occur at any temperature from about 65°F/18°C downward.
If your fan is set to AUTO, it shuts off between cooling cycles. This allows time for the moisture on the cooling coils to collect and drain outdoors like it is designed to do. But if your fan is set to ON, the fan runs continuously and blows the moisture right back into your house.
Best Humidity for Sleeping
The best relative humidity for sleeping and other indoor activities has been debated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best indoor relative humidity falls between 30% and 50%, and it should never exceed 60%. Other studies suggest 40% to 60% is a better range.
While everyone's home comfort preferences will vary, we recommend a dehumidistat setting between 35 and 45 percent for Summer.
Use desiccants
Without the facilitation of an electrical appliance, desiccants such as silica gel, charcoal, and rock salt can still adsorb some moisture from the air at a slower rate, due to their hygroscopic nature. You can put a basket of charcoal in the room and replace the charcoal once it gets damp.
Yes, your air conditioner does remove humidity from the air. Well-maintained air conditioners help to keep your relative humidity between 30% and 50% — the ideal level. As long as you run your air conditioner regularly enough to keep your home cool, it will also keep humidity levels in check.
In general, it's recommended to set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This may seem high compared to the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it'll help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities – where your plumbing is often located – safely above freezing temperatures.
Most yeasts and molds are heat-sensitive and destroyed by heat treatments at temperatures of 140-160°F (60-71°C). Some molds make heat-resistant spores, however, and can survive heat treatments in pickled vegetable products. These molds, however, require oxygen to grow.
Sometimes, humidity or dampness (water vapor) in the air can supply enough moisture for mold growth. Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60 percent -- ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent, if possible. Low humidity may also discourage pests (such as cockroaches) and dust mites.
I found that making some changes in my thermostat had a significant effect on humidity: Setting the fan to “Auto” instead of “Circulate”. The Circulate mode runs the fan 30% of the time when AC isn't running with the intent to keep the air moving and make it feel cooler.
How long will it take to get the moisture under control? As long as the dehumidifier you choose is large enough for the area it is working in, and there are no specific damp problems, then a dehumidifier will normally reduce the humidity to the chosen level within a few days to a week.
But if the fan is set to ON, the moisture on the refrigerant coils does not get the chance to drain away. Because the fan blows constantly, most of the moistures evaporates and gets blown right back into your house!