Do you know what the humidity level is in your home? Do you see condensation on your windows or doors? If you do the humidity level may be at about the highest level it can be with out causing damage to the wood around the window. A little moisture is OK but when water starts running off it can cause problems and rotting of the wood. It can also cause mold and mildew to grow.

The condensation is related to the relative humidity in the home. The recommended indoor winter relative humidity is 30 to 50 percent. If your humidity is at a higher level, there are some simple steps to decrease the humidity in your home. Many of the daily household activities we do can raise the humidity. Bathing, cooking, cleaning, washing and drying clothes all produce water vapors. A ten minute shower will produce about a pint of water vapors. A pint is also produced per meal from cooking and dishwashing. Three pints per day is produced by breathing. A large number of houseplants can give off up to a pint of water vapors per day. The addition of one pint of moisture will raise the relative humidity of a 1,500 square foot home by eight percentage points.

Water leaking from faucets is another source of water vapor. Always make sure faucets are shut off completely.

Using exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen with help reduce the moisture level. Run the fan whenever there are moisture producing activities taking place. With an exhaust fan the volume of air moved is more closely regulated and there is some reduction in drafts.

If moisture continues after steps have been taken to reduce moisture, it may be a good idea to use a dehumidifier or ventilate the space. When purchasing a dehumidifier the key features should include a hose connection or handle to make it easy to empty the tank. A separate on/off switch is handy. According to Consumer Reports, a larger-capacity unit will work more quickly and efficiently. It will handle a wider range of humidity levels. A large capacity unit will remove 50 to 65 pints per day, a medium capacity 40 to 45 pints per day and small capacity will remove 25 to 30 pints per day.

Too much humidity is as undesirable as too little. The effects of relative humidity may be:

• at less than 30 percent and more than 60 percent bacteria increases
• at more than 60 percent fungi increases
• at more than 50 percent mites increase

As many new homes are tighter it is important to use practical steps to keep the humidity at a comfortable and safe level.

(This resource was added January 2007 and appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper Sunday edition. For information on reproducing this article or using any photographs or graphics, read the Terms of Use statement)

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