Because the Coastal Bend area sees high humidity so often, it can be hard to tell when the moisture in your home’s air has reached an unhealthy level. By learning the signs of excess moisture, you can catch the problem early.
Signs to Look For:
- Mold – Check for mold and mildew spots in the corners of your ceilings, especially in the kitchen and bath. Also look under carpets and behind furniture. If you find mold or notice a musty odor, it’s likely you have too much moisture in your air.
- Respiratory complaints – Asthma and allergy symptoms that worsen when you’re at home suggest high indoor humidity. Mold and dust mites thrive in damp air. These microorganisms irritate your airways, aggravating respiratory problems.
- Damage to your home – Damp air can cause peeling wallpaper, bubbled paint, warped flooring, and brown moisture stains on the walls.
- Frequent condensation – Occasional condensation on your windows is nothing to worry about, but frequent condensation indicates excess moisture in the air. Check the bottom of the window frames for rot or mold caused by dripping condensation. This is a sure sign you need to reduce your home’s moisture level.
Correcting Your Humidity Levels
Run your exhaust fans for 15 minutes after showering or cooking. Don’t leave them running much longer, though, or you’ll draw in more moisture than you let out. Set your A/C to “auto” rather than “fan.” This reduces the risk of condensation on the evaporator coil being blown back into your rooms. To reduce this risk even further, invest in an A/C enhancer. This device allows your A/C to start only when there’s no risk of moisture re-evaporating into your air. It also boosts your A/C’s efficiency.
For more severe humidity problems, a whole-house dehumidifier can help. This system is installed in your heating and cooling system’s indoor unit and draws moisture out of the air passing through. Drier, healthier air is then delivered via your air ducts to every room in your house.
For more professional guidance on improving your indoor air quality, contact us at CCAC in the Coastal Bend area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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