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Moisture’s in the Air. How to Quickly Dehumidify a Room

Moisture’s in the Air. How to Quickly Dehumidify a Room

Spring and summer can create humid environments, and it’s an unpleasant feeling when your home is one of them. If you’ve noticed that your home feels muggy whenever the temperature rises, dehumidifying your home is probably top priority.

Here’s how to remove humidity from a room without a dehumidifier – and some of the biggest causes of high humidity in a home so you can prevent this issue in the first place.

Common Culprits of Humidity in Your Home

If you frequently wonder, “Why is humidity high in my house?” addressing the underlying cause is essential. Several factors can contribute to high humidity levels.

1. Outside Weather

The weather and temperature outside can affect humidity levels within your house… and there’s nothing you can do about that. However, you can take proper steps to address any other contributing factors below, which can compound the humidity problem.

2. Poor Ventilation

Humidity occurs when there is excessive moisture in the air. When areas are properly ventilated, this moist air is removed from the space. So, if you notice high humidity within your home, a very likely cause might be poor ventilation.

3. Leaks

Leaks within your plumbing system may contribute to high humidity. Remember, anything that adds moisture to the air can increase humidity levels. Any water escaping via leaks in your pipes is likely still lingering in your home!

4. Moisture-Prone Activities

Any activities that add moisture into the air ­like doing laundry, showering, or cooking – can contribute to mugginess in your home. To determine if these activities are leading to unwanted humidity, observe whether the moist air is constant or situational. Is your home always muggy, or does this only happen on occasion?

5. Damp Soil Beneath Your Home

That’s right – moisture can creep into your home from the ground up! You may notice increased humidity if water has accumulated underneath your home. To help alleviate this issue, especially if you live in a location that experiences frequent rain or is near a lake or river, check your downspouts and gutters to ensure they’re functioning properly.

The Consequences of a Humid Home

High humidity within your home can have consequences beyond making you feel sticky and gross. Homes with excess humidity can also experience increased mold and mildew growth, water damage to floors and ceilings, bad odors, and even structural damage.

Your electronics can also become damaged by humidity if condensation accumulates and rust forms. Finally, and most importantly, a humid home can have detrimental effects on your health. Increased humidity can worsen conditions like asthma and allergies, and it can also have negative impacts on sleep.

How to Spot Humidity Concerns

Aside from physically feeling the humidity in your home, there are a few telltale signs that humidity levels might be creeping higher than they should.

  • Water damage
  • Mold or mildew growth
  • Cracking wood furniture
  • Condensation
  • Wall discoloration/bubbling wallpaper
  • Musty smells
  • Rust/corrosion in electronics
  • Moist surfaces

Each of these is a sign that there is too much moisture in your home and air. They can get exponentially worse over time, so it’s important to dehumidify your space as soon as you notice them.

How to Dehumidify A Room

1. Open your windows and doors.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce indoor humidity is by opening your doors and windows to improve air circulation. This will help redirect warm, moist air outside while letting fresh air flow inside.

2. Turn on your fans.

Not only do ceiling fans help improve air circulation, but the air created by the fans can also help to evaporate excess moisture in your home. Additionally, using your exhaust fan when cooking and the bathroom fan when showering can help to prevent excess moisture from sticking around.

3. Run a dehumidifier.

A simple way to dehumidify a space is by running a dehumidifier. These work by drawing the warm indoor air in, cooling it off, and trapping the condensation within the coils of the machine. Dry air is emitted back into the room, which will help to reduce the humidity.

4. Use your air conditioner.

Air conditioners play an important role in reducing indoor humidity. AC units contain coils that, similar to a dehumidifier, condense the water vapor into a liquid and remove it from your air. Depending on how muggy conditions are, an air conditioner can remove anywhere from five to 20 gallons of water from your home a day!

5. Create a DIY dehumidifier.

But how to remove moisture from a room without a dehumidifier? Baking soda, calcium chloride, and rock salt are all budget-friendly and readily available dehumidifying products. Put them in a bowl or bucket (or any container you see fit!), and you’ve got a natural dehumidifier that will start absorbing moisture from the air in your most humid rooms.

6. Combine the above methods.

One of the best ways to dehumidify your space as quickly as possible is to combine a few different methods. Decorate your windowsills with calcium chloride, take short, cool showers, open your windows, run your fans, and you’re likely to experience results quickly.

How Long Does It Take To Dehumidify A Room?

It can take anywhere from a few days to a week to truly remove all excess moisture from a room. Of course, a few factors affect just how long it will take, including the size of the room, the amount of excess moisture, the size of the dehumidifier (if this is your chosen method), and so on.

If you’re eager to dehumidify as quickly as possible, ensure that you have a properly sized solution for the space, whether that’s a single room or an entire house. Additionally, it’s important that you utilize your chosen method as consistently as possible.

Replace Humidity-Damaged Items on a Budget at Rent-A-Center

Excess humidity can wreak havoc on your furniture and electronics. Once you’ve used these tips to get rid of unwanted moisture in your home, replace any humidity-damaged items with help from Rent-A-Center. Get new items quickly with our flexible rent-to-own payment options, free delivery, and curbside pickup. Shop online or visit your nearest Rent-A-Center today.

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