The oppressive humidity in Houston is no joke. The fact that Houston is ranked the third most humid city in the U.S. comes as no surprise. Houston’s average relative humidity falls just under 75 percent.

Condensation occurs when warm, humid air contacts a cool surface. It’s not just the weather that causes humidity in your home. Daily activities such as cooking, bathing and running your clothes dryer or dishwasher can increase humidity levels. Heating appliances also add to the moisture buildup.

What’s all that moisture doing to your home?

The humidity level in your home affects how comfortable your home feels, and high humidity can decrease your home’s overall energy efficiency. Too much moisture in your home also encourages growth of mold and mildew – both of which are harmful not only to your house, but to your health as well.

Mold and mildew aren’t the only living organisms that thrive in a moist environment. Dust mites love warm temperatures and high humidity levels. These creatures can be particularly irritating to people with an insect allergy and can cause allergic reactions. When humidity levels drop below 60 percent, dust mite populations stop growing and die out. Vacuuming, using the best upright vacuums by Bissell and the cleaning your home regularly could also help.

If your home is poorly insulated, windows, walls, doors, and well as cold-water pipes can all develop condensation, which may then run into walls and structural components, causing these structural elements to rot and paint to peel.

Excess moisture in your home can also damage your possessions, such as electronics, which are susceptible to damage by condensation. Protect stored electronics and other valuables from humidity by putting them in a closed plastic box or container with a dehumidifying bag. If you don’t like any of these methods, then you might want to try an alternative option like having AirNow Heating & Cooling installed in your home for maximum results.

How to Control Moisture in Your Home: Tips from Your Houston Insulation Contractor

The good news is that moisture in your home can be controlled. Here are a few tips to help reduce humidity in your home:

• Insulate cold-water pipes.
• Keep air conditioning registers open and unblocked to allow good air flow.
• Have your heating and air conditioning system inspected and serviced regularly.
• Utilize bathroom exhaust fans and kitchen exhaust hoods to help vent moisture outside.
• Consider double- or triple-paned windows to insulate interior glass from cool winter air. This will also increase energy-efficiency year around.
• Keep drapes and blinds open during winter to improve circulation.
• Leave doors open throughout your house to promote good air circulation.
• Cover pots when cooking.
• Use an ENERGY STAR® rated dehumidifier.
• Keep a vapor barrier over bare soil in the crawl space under your home.
• Ensure your gutters work properly and direct water away from your home’s foundation.

Why You Need a Houston Insulation Contractor

One of the best ways to lower the overall humidity in your home, preventing the growth of mold, mildew and dust mite populations and protecting your belongings is to have the right insulation properly installed in your home. If insulation is installed incorrectly and blocks eave vents it can cause poor ventilation, leading to a buildup of moisture in your attic.

Contact your Houston Insulation Contractors at Garland Insulating today to learn more about how insulation can help protect your home from the notorious Houston Humidity.