How To Help With Humidity In Your Home

Do you know about and understand the humidity in your home? It can cause mould, in extreme cases, warped floorboards as well as possible breathing problems. As the weather is now turning colder and people are turning their heating on, the natural thing to do is to close all the windows, to conserve energy and keep all heat inside. But this can also cause problems with humidity. Normally you think of humidity as being high in the summer months, but it can be just as much of a problem during the winter, especially in the home.

Sally Fok, co-founder and MD of air conditioning and dehumidifier producer EcoAir, explains: “Humidity problems in the home are caused by excess moisture in the air, which can come from a multitude of sources, including condensation, rain entering the house, leaking pipes, rising damp or flooding, moisture in construction materials, faulty damp proof course, inadequate ventilation, high rainfall, and even everyday household activities such as cooking, boiling the kettle, taking showers, running baths and drying laundry.

By turning heating on in the winter months and closing doors and windows to keep our homes warm, we significantly reduce ventilation and air circulation. Rain and melting snow create increased levels of moisture that enter our home through the windows, floors and walls, particularly in older buildings.”

Sally adds: “In all homes, the difference between the inside and outside temperatures in winter will cause the condensation of moisture on cold surfaces – windows, ceilings, floorboards and walls – and these wet surfaces become a breeding ground for bacteria.”

High humidity in the home can cause a number of problems, including rotting wood around windows and windowsills, spoiling wooden instruments or books, causing food to go stale quicker, triggering mould and mildew, which can damage wallpaper, carpets, fabrics, soft furnishings or even causing structural damage to foundations.

Excess moisture in the air can also cause a number of health issues, providing optimum conditions for microorganisms and airborne allergens, such as dust mites or mould spores, to breed, thrive and spread.

What You Can Do

• Open windows, even in winter. They only need to be slightly open but this will really help.
• Leave fans on when cooking and showering
• If your windows have vents, leave them open as much as possible
• Take slightly cooler showers
• Invest in a fan or de-humidifier
• Move your houseplants into one room

At SCI Windows, we can assess your home if needed when providing a quotation, to give you ideas as to the best ways to keep the humidity down in your home, depending on the style and environment you are in. We work across Surrey, South West and South London, installing quality A Rated PVCu windows and many styles of doors; to increase security, add energy efficiency, reduce condensation and look stylish and contemporary.