Top 5 tips to lower your home’s humidity

Like warm weather, but hate humidity? Aside from the havoc it wreaks on your hair, humidity can affect other aspects of your life and health as well. When humidity reaches the great indoors, it can cause itching, sneezing and coughing — and summer isn’t the only season you’ll suffer.

So why does humidity cause these irritating reactions?
Humidity promotes mold growth and dust mites, setting off allergies.

How low should I keep humidity in my home?
Fifty percent or lower will help provide relief. Check the level in your home with Weather.com’s Indoor Humidity Meter. (Scroll to the bottom of the page.)

How do I lower the humidity in my house?
1. Try dehumidifiers, ventilation and air conditioning. (Check out Energy Star dehumidifers from a number of companies, including Frigidaire, Haier, LG and Kenmore.)
2. Pay particular attention to your bathroom, where moisture can build. Turn on the vent (or install one).
3. Carpeting can trap moisture, so other flooring, such as wood floors or tile, can help lower humidity.
4. Put house plants outside, since they give off moisture through their leaves.
5. Make sure your clothes dryer vent is directed toward the outside.

But don’t forget that the air in your home can go the other way as well, particularly in winter months. Air that gets too dry can cause skin irritation, difficulty breathing and static electricity. So make sure you drink more liquids, turn on your humidifiers and use lip balm and lotion when the cold weather arrives.

Tags: allergies, Energy Star, humidity

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