Facts About Humidity

Besides hurricanes humidity probably causes the most damage to Florida homes.  The bottom line is to keep humidity levels down to avoid mold growth and maintain a healthy enviroment inside your home.

Let face it, Florida has a problem with humidity.  With all the rain and very hot weather you have a constant battle to reduce humidity in your home. Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapor in the air. Indoor plants produce moisture. We add water vapor to indoor air through many household activities: showering, bathing, cooking and doing laundry. We need humidity for our health and comfort.  Problems often occur during the summer season when our windows are closed, and indoor air circulation and ventilation are reduced. 

Relative Humidity
Humidity is normally measured as relative humidity (RH). RH is a percentage that indicates the amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature. People are comfortable when relative humidity ranges between 20 and 60 percent. In your home, an average relative humidity of 35 to 45 percent is appropriate when the outside temperature is 20°F or above.

Diagnosing the Humidity Problem
You want to be able to diagnose a humidity problem inside your home and take the nessessary steps to correct a problem. A simple way to check your humidity level is to use an instrument called a hygrometer ( relative humidity indicator). This can measure the humidity level in your home and confirm whether the house has too much or too little humidity. Then take the steps to reduce this level.

How to Gauge Indoor Humidity
Frequent fogging of windows may indicate too much humidity. The appropriate relative humidity will allow only slight condensation along the lower edges or corners of windows. More condensation could be damaging.
Moisture buildup or mold on closet walls or room ceilings and walls indicates high humidity.

Steps to lower humidity in your home

Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans while cooking and bathing.
Cook with pans covered.
Take shorter showers with cooler water.
Reduce the number of plants in your home or water them less; they release water vapor into the environment.
Vent clothes dryer to the outside.
Set humidistat while your away for extended periods of time.
Leave air conditioning on during hot humid weather.