If you are one of the thousands of people who live in an area with high humidity, you understand the problems that must be faced when you go outside. When it's hot, the humidity makes it so you can never cool off, and when it's cold, the humidity only accentuates the bitterness of the cold weather. The humidity can make it very uncomfortable to be outside, but there are many more problems to be dealt with when your home has a high level of relative humidity (RH). High humidity in the home encourages the growth of mold, house-mites, and other allergens. Humidity can damage valuable keepsakes and furniture, as well as the structure of your home. In extreme cases high RH can affect your health as it can aggravate asthma, arthritis, and rheumatism. With all the problems humidity can create, it is important to know how to recognize the signs of high humidity, clean and repair any damaged areas, and prevent any further damage by controlling the humidity levels in your home.

Humidity is created from many sources inside and outside your home. Obviously, living in a humid area of the country will have a huge effect on the level of RH in your home, but other every day activities can also affect RH. Some of these activities, including taking a bath or shower, boiling water on the stove, using the dryer or dishwasher, and even breathing can raise level of RH throughout the house. In many cases, the damages humidity causes can go unnoticed for a long time until it is too late. You can recognize and prevent any potential damage from humidity by looking for the following signs. Condensation, mildew, mold, musty smells are pretty obvious signs. You must also look for distorted window frames, bubbling or pealing wallpaper, structural defects, damaged furniture, rusty pipes, and ruined clothing as signs of high RH. Also, pay attention to your and your family's health as it can be a sign of high levels of humidity.

If your home is already showing signs of mold growth or damage from high humidity levels, you will need to assess whether the cleaning and repair job is something you can handle yourself or if you should hire a professional cleaner to do the job. As a general rule, if the affected area is less than 10 square feet, you would be able to handle the clean up yourself. In more extreme cases, it is best to consult a professional. When doing it yourself, it's important to start at the source of the problem. Repair any leaking plumbing and dry everything thoroughly. Also scrub mold off of all surfaces with a detergent and water. Be sure to wear rubber gloves, an N-95 respirator, and goggles without ventilation holes to avoid contact with mold spores that can irritate your skin, lungs, and eyes. Certain porous materials such as carpet or ceiling tiles might have to be replaced altogether if affected by mold. Also, it is usually best to hire a professional if you suspect mold is growing behind wallpaper, because you could possibly spread mold spores by trying to clean it yourself.

Once you have cleaned and fixed any damage caused by humidity, or if you have noticed the warning signs of high humidity, it is time to take preventative action against humidity in the future. The first thing you will want to consider getting is a humidistat which will monitor the amount of relative humidity in your home. A level of humidity between 30% to 50% humidity is optimum for most homes. Your best defense against high humidity levels is to purchase a quality dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will be able to regulate the amount of humidity in your home as well as filter out dust and other pollutants from the air. A dehumidifier can also save money on heating bills because your home can stay warmer with the lower levels of humidity. Dehumidifiers are relatively inexpensive and use very little electricity to run. It is also important to maintain all plumbing to make sure there are no leaks which will foster the growth of mold. When taking a bath or shower, turn on a ventilation fan or open a window to allow excess humidity to leave the room.

Keeping your home free of high levels of humidity will save you a lot of problems in the future and will allow you to better preserve your furniture, clothes, and valuable keepsakes. Just make sure you look for the warning signs of high humidity, clean and repair any problem areas, and take measures to prevent further problems with high RH. Doing these things will make your home a cleaner, more comfortable place for your family and friends.