Most studies on environmental health indicate that the ideal and desirable relative humidity in a home's indoor environment should be between 40% and 60%. Excessive humidity can lead to a number of unpleasant problems, ranging from minor damage to household furniture to chronic health issues for the residents.
Various health problems, such as allergies, inflammatory diseases, and respiratory conditions like asthma, are directly related to prolonged exposure to excessive levels of humidity. In these environments, the proliferation of some of the factors that trigger these illnesses is much higher: dust mites, fungi and mold, bacteria, and viruses.
High humidity can cause numerous problems in the home and its furnishings, such as stains on the walls, condensation, leaks, odor problems, peeling paint, loss of energy efficiency in the home and much more.
It also contributes to creating a more unpleasant environment inside the home, increasing the perception of cold in winter and the feeling of heat during the summer.
To keep humidity under control at home, it's necessary to follow a series of simple recommendations and tips that will help prevent it from accumulating excessively inside the house. Some precautions to keep in mind:
Ventilate the house regularly
The most serious problems related to excess humidity in the home usually arise from the condensation of water particles suspended in the air. One of the easiest and most effective ways to combat these humidity problems is by following regular ventilation routines in the different rooms of the house. Allowing fresh air to circulate prevents humidity buildup and condensation. If you live in a particularly humid area, you should ventilate the house only briefly to prevent moisture from the outside air from entering.
Don't set the heating too high
Besides hindering energy efficiency in the home and increasing emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, setting the heating higher than necessary can also contribute to a buildup of humidity inside the house. This is due to the natural mechanisms that cause condensation, which occurs when there is a temperature contrast. In this case, it's the excessive heat inside the house versus the cold outside during winter. Generally, a temperature between 19°C and 21°C is more than enough to maintain a comfortable environment.
Use heat-insulating paint
If humidity is a real problem in your home, it might be worthwhile to paint the interior walls with thermal insulation paint. As the name suggests, it insulates the walls, preventing excessive heat transfer through the partitions and walls. This avoids condensation problems, which are common in areas of the house that have thermal bridges in the building envelope. This measure will not only help combat humidity but will also increase the home's energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss.
Use a dehumidifier
Technology can also be a great ally when it comes to tackling humidity problems in the home. The ideal device for this is a dehumidifier, an appliance whose main function is to capture excess moisture from the air and regulate its relative humidity to create a healthier and more pleasant environment. Currently, different types of dehumidifier models are available depending on your needs: portable, refrigerant, desiccant, etc.
Improve the insulation of the doors and windows of the house
Properly insulating the joints around doors and windows is key to optimizing energy efficiency and preventing heat loss, especially in cold climates and during the harshest winter months. Furthermore, it can be crucial for preventing water and moisture infiltration from outside the building. Moreover, this measure can lead to savings of up to 30% on heating and cooling costs. Similarly, checking and maintaining the proper insulation of the rest of the building's structure is essential to prevent unwanted moisture leaks.
Short showers are best
During bathroom use, large amounts of moisture are released into the air. Therefore, it's best to opt for short showers to minimize this effect, which will also save water. Additionally, it's a good idea to ventilate the bathroom for a few minutes after showering to prevent excess humidity from accumulating inside the bathroom and throughout the rest of the house. Another helpful measure is to use an exhaust fan to channel the excess moisture outside.
Source: https://www.enestadocrudo.com/
