6 WAYS TO DECREASE YOUR HOME’S RELATIVE HUMIDITY
There are multiple ways to make the air less hot and muggy inside your home. Just use these tips from our HVAC and indoor air quality experts!
1. Don’t turn your AC off completely while you’re away from home.
Humid air isn’t just uncomfortable. It also takes more energy to cool, which translates into higher cooling costs.
If you shut off your AC completely, it has to spend a ton of energy returning your home to your desired temperature while also removing all the built-up humidity. Instead, turn your thermostat down, but allow your AC to run periodically while you’re away.
2. Use your bathroom fan or open a window to let out humidity.
Bathing and showering can add a lot of moisture to your indoor air. Counteract this problem by turning on your bathroom fan and letting it run for at least 30 minutes after you’re done bathing or showering. If you don’t have a bathroom fan, crack a window instead.
3. Turn on your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking on the stove.
Using your stove can create steam that can make your kitchen humid, especially when performing activities like boiling pasta or stir-frying vegetables. Switch on your kitchen’s exhaust fan to suck up the moisture.
4. Set your dishwasher to the “no heat” dry cycle.
Your dishwasher can add a lot of humidity to your indoor air during its normal heated dry cycle. Avoid this by using its “no heat” dry cycle setting. You might need to towel off a few dishes before putting them in the cupboard, but your home will feel less humid, and you’ll also reduce your energy consumption as an added bonus!
5. Wait to run your clothes dryer until the evening.
Your clothes dryer is another appliance that can increase your home’s relative humidity. For this reason, it’s best to run it later in the day when the weather has cooled off a bit so that your AC won’t have to work so hard to keep your home comfortable. Your AC will use less energy, and you’ll save money.
6. Install a dehumidifier.
If your home has severe problems with excess humidity, consider installing a whole-home dehumidifier. This device regulates your home’s relative humidity so that you can prevent hazards like mold and mildew growth.
As Gainesville HVAC experts, we know how to get the heat and humidity out of your home. Contact Bounds Heating & Air today for any and all of your HVAC and indoor air quality needs by calling (352) 472-2761.
