Indoor humidity that is too high can cause your home to feel uncomfortably sticky, and it encourages mold growth and damages wood surfaces. When you notice condensation on the windows, musty smells or the air conditioner struggling to keep your home comfortable, the issue could be excess humidity.
Maintaining an indoor humidity level of 30% to 50% helps to keep your home protected from damage and makes you more comfortable. Excess humidity is common in climates like the one we enjoy here in Jacksonville. But, we have solutions to provide air conditioners with support that helps control excess moisture in the air.
Quick Takeaways
- Ideal indoor humidity ranges from 30% to 50%.
- Having excess humidity can strain your HVAC system and impact your comfort.
- Musty odors, mold and increased condensation on windows are common warning signs.
- High humidity can make your home feel warmer than the thermostat shows.
- A whole-home dehumidifier can help maintain humidity levels in the healthy range.
1. Your House Feels Muggy or Sticky
High humidity levels impact your body’s natural ability to cool off through the evaporation of sweat. When the air is already full of moisture, your sweat won’t evaporate, which is why you feel sticky. This discomfort can impact your productivity, mood and overall enjoyment of being indoors.
2. Condensation Begins Forming on Windows
Warm, humid air hitting the colder window pane forces the moisture to be released. When it does, you’ll see visible water droplets form on the glass that can lead to damage over time.
3. You Start Noticing Musty Odors
Moisture buildup from high humidity contributes to mold and mildew growth. Once you detect a musty odor, you can reasonably suspect that mold and mildew are already present in your home. Indoor air quality testing might also reveal high mold spore levels that impact your health.
4. Mold or Mildew Continues to Return
Scrubbing away mold and mildew only to have it come back is frustrating. But, this might not be a cleaning issue when there is high humidity in your house that encourages mold growth. Lowering the humidity in your home can stop mold growth by making the environment drier.
5. The Air Conditioner Runs Constantly, But You’re Still Uncomfortable
Humidity can make your home feel hot, even when the actual air temperature is cooler. Unfortunately, cooling alone isn’t always enough to control moisture. An oversized AC system could lead to short cycling that doesn’t allow enough time for the unit to remove moisture properly.
6. Wood Cabinets, Floors and Doors Start to Swell
Wood is a porous material that absorbs excess moisture in the air. If you’ve recently noticed a door sticking or warping floors, then high humidity levels might be damaging the materials.
7. Your Allergy or Asthma Symptoms Are Worsening
Mold spores floating in the air, along with an increase in dust mites, can have a negative impact on air quality, which increases respiratory symptoms. You can also install a whole-home air purifier along with a dehumidifier to further boost air quality in your house for people with airborne allergies.
8. You Notice Peeling Wallpaper and Paint
These wall coverings are designed to be moisture-resistant to a certain point. High humidity in your home can push the water-resistance of paint and wallpaper to the point that you see bubbling and peeling.
9. The Indoor Humidity Stays Consistently Above 50%
You can quickly check the humidity level in your home by using a hygrometer. If the device shows that the humidity is more than 50%, then it’s time to take action. Our indoor air quality professionals can do thorough testing to determine if you could benefit from installing a whole-home dehumidifier.
What Causes High Humidity?
Just living in Florida alone is enough to cause high humidity in homes. But, you might also look for these culprits.
- Air leaks
- Oversized air conditioners
- Poor ventilation
- Everyday household activities, such as showering and doing laundry
Know How to Reduce Indoor Humidity
Taking a few simple steps can lower humidity in your home to halt damage and help you feel comfortable.
- Use the exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen
- Seal air leaks
- Maintain the HVAC system
- Improve overall ventilation
- Install a whole-home dehumidifier when humidity stays high despite your best efforts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal humidity level inside a home?
The ideal humidity level in a home ranges from 30% to 50%. Anything outside of this range might need professional solutions to improve the indoor air quality.
Can high humidity damage my home?
Absolutely, it can! High humidity can warp wood materials, cause paint to peel and create the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth.
Why does my house feel humid even when the AC is running?
Sometimes, oversized air conditioning systems and short cycling don’t allow the unit to properly dehumidify the air.
When should I consider a whole-home dehumidifier?
If taking simple actions, such as using exhaust fans, doesn’t bring the humidity below 50%, then it might be time to install a whole-home dehumidifier. You’ll also be ready to take this step when you already see damage in your home or experience serious asthma or allergy symptoms.
Take Control of Excess Indoor Humidity In Your Home
Dealing with humidity is just part of living in beautiful Jacksonville, Florida. But, you don’t have to let high humidity levels ruin your comfort or damage your home. At One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating, we’re available to provide whole-home dehumidifier installations to homeowners in Jacksonville and the surrounding communities.
We’re also known for our commitment to living up to the promise that we’re always on time or you don’t pay a dime. Schedule an indoor air quality or humidity evaluation at the first sign of excess moisture levels in your home, and we’ll give you our best solutions for restoring your comfort.