Ideal House Humidity In Winter & Reducing Indoor Humidity in Winter

Is It Normal for Homes to Be More Humid in Winter?

It’s fairly typical in most climates for humidity levels in homes to be low during the winter season.

If for any reason humidity levels seem to be high in your house it very likely could be from water leaks, condensation or poor ventilation.

In the winter cold air can’t hold a lot of moisture and tends to be drier.

Therefore, if your home seems to be more humid then it’s a sign that condensation is starting to form in the home.

Common Causes of High Indoor Humidity in Winter

Moisture entering a home and becoming trapped is what causes humidity to rise in your home in winter.

You may notice during the winter condensation forming around windows. There are a few reasons this tends to happen.

This excess moisture may come from:

1.Poor or improper ventilation

Be sure all windows and doors and any other openings in the home are sealed off properly.

Since air can slip into the home from the smallest crack, check and see that any and all openings are sealed off and in good condition.

Whether it be windows or walls, you don’t want air getting into the home where it shouldn’t be.

2.Leaky roof/gutters

Water may be seeping in from the room if there is any damage up there. You will want to check and see that the roof is in good condition and make any necessary repairs.

While you’re up there, take a look at the gutters and make sure they are cleaned out.

Clogged gutters can cause a roof to leak if they are not taken care of so be sure to clean them out frequently.

3.Damp basements

Since basements don’t get sunlight and don’t hold heat well, condensation could build up here which can cause mildew and mold to form.

Be sure your basement is in good condition as well and has the best possible ventilation

4.HVAC system needs repaired

If this isn’t working properly it could be a reason why you have high humidity levels in winter.

Check and see that the system is in good working condition and if it’s not then you should have it fixed immediately either by doing it yourself or calling a professional HVAC installer to solve the problem

How To Tell if Your House is Too Humid in Winter

There are a few ways to tell if the humidity in your home is too high like clammy skin, foggy windows or moisture on walls.

You can also smell mildew when your home is too humid, which comes from built up moisture.

Another reason for high humidity could be something such as a water leak.

So, if you’re experiencing high humidity levels check and see for possible leaks or condensation around windows or leaky pipes.

Check the overall ventilation in the home too like doors and windows. Make sure air is circulating properly.

These high levels of humidity can cause health problems like asthma attacks and allergies flaring up.

You will want to find a solution to this fast if you experience any of these things:

1.House Feels very Cold even if the house isn’t that cold.

During cold weather, high humidity levels will make you feel colder. This can also effect your health when it comes to breathing or itchy skin and such.

A few tips to help with this are staying hydrated, moisturize and keeping your home at the right temperature.

2.Moisture On Walls in Winter

Homes are prone to condensation during the colder months.

With temperature changes during this time, walls can get this condensation built up inside the home. 

Two main reasons for this is humidity inside the home and insufficient insulation outside the home.

These are some signs that there is moisture building up on the walls:

• Peeling paint or wallpaper
• Water marks or staining
• Wet spots on ceiling after rain
• Walls that feel damp when touched
• Musty, stale odor coming from walls

To avoid this, you will want to maximize the air flow in your home and make sure that there is no missing or damaged insulation to the home.

What Should Humidity Be in Your Home During the Winter?

When it comes to humidity in your home during the winter season, typically it should be around 30-50%. 

Although this depends on various factors such as:

• Climate zone where you reside
• What the enclosure of your home is (insulation/barriers)
• How much you ventilate the home
• How much moisture you generate indoors

Sometimes if the humidity in your home is too dry, you may want to invest in a humidifier.

If you have an airtight, well insulated home then a humidifier really isn’t necessary, but if not then using a humidifier can keep the indoor moisture at a comfortable level.

The best indoor humidity during the winter is between 25-35%.

You may have a hard time keeping it any higher than that if you live in a cold climate.

One of the main reasons your home tends to get dry in the winter is because the cold air is dry air and the cold air can leak into the home.

If you want to measure the humidity in your home then you will need a hygrometer.

This small device should be placed away from areas like a bathroom or kitchen where moisture can is created.

Make sure to keep it away from windows and doors where weather conditions like rain can affects its reading.

Additional Benefits of Good Indoor Humidity Levels in Winter

Another benefit of having good humidity levels in winter, in your home is that you will have better control of dust.

A constant level of humidity will keep away dust and help prevent allergies and pollutants out of the air. This will offer healthier and cleaner air in your home.

By keeping good levels of humidity within the home it will also save money on heating in winter.

This will also cause less of a strain on your heating system when humidity is low in the winter.

Overall, keeping the humidity at good levels in winter will improve not only the feel in your home & Lower heating costs but also the quality of your health.

Make sure to Keep an eye on your basement humidity in winter as well…

In the winter, cold air can make humidity levels in the basement drop. If the same cold air makes its way into the home that can have a negative impact on the heating costs as well.

During the winter be sure to check that the basement is insulated properly and that no outside air or very little can get inside.

This will make a difference in how humidity will affect your home during the cold months.

During the winter you want to keep an eye on humidity in your home because if proper levels are not maintained it can cause damage to the inside and outside of the home.

How To Reduce Humidity in Your Home During the Winter

You may notice during the winter that humidity tends to rise in your home. This can be because of a variety of reasons like change in temperature or just daily activities in your home can create moisture.

These activities could include things like cooking or showering since they both involve water.

Plus, if air isn’t circulating properly then that moisture will get trapped in those rooms.

So, you want to try to keep this from happening as best as possible.

When it comes to try reducing the humidity in your home there are several ways you can go about keeping the levels low.

1.Turn up the heat

Heating your home more in winter will keep moisture at bay.

You don’t want to overly heat your home and turn it into a sauna. Just enough to have adequate air flow in the home.

When the heat begins to hit the cold surfaces where moisture forms, it will help dry the area and get rid of said moisture.

2.Use your air conditioner

It will remove warm air by bringing in cooler air which will help keep the moisture out of the home in winter. Be sure to frequently change the filter as well.

You don’t want your AC giving you any trouble, especially when you need it to be working.

3.Use ventilation fans

If you’re cooking over a hot stove turn on this fan to help circulate good air flow and reduce humidity.

Using water to cook can create moisture and having a fan running while cooking can definitely keep humidity from rising in the kitchen

4.Take cooler showers

Hot showers have hot air, but cool showers won’t have as much steam and less humidity in bathrooms.

The steam from a warm shower can really be a big factor in humidity in the home.

So, taking a shower just a few degrees cooler could make a big difference when it comes to keeping humidity levels low

5.Fix any leaking pipes

This is obvious to avoid any moisture in the home that can lead to higher humidity levels.

Any leaking faucets or pipes will create condensation. Make sure these pipes are insulated and in good working condition to prevent this from happening.

6.Insulate pipes

Pipes may tend to sweat, so by insulating them it will keep them from sweating and from getting cold in the winter.

Any pipes exposed to freezing weather can cause damage to the home. So, check all pipes in the basement, garage and attic that need to be insulated which will save you a lot of trouble during the winter months.

7.Get a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is probably the best way to reduce indoor humidity in winter to speed up the removal of any excess moisture.

Especially in places like a basement or bathrooms where there are high humidity levels.

The dehumidifier will remove the moisture in the air so by the time the air reaches you it will be dry and cool and comfortable for you.

Using a Dehumidifier is probably one of the most cost-effective ways to fight off moisture and can improve your overall air quality indoors.

Also, using one of these units can cut down on using your AC unit and help save money. It’s definitely an item to invest in to keep your home nice and cool like you like it.

8.Move any house plants

they tend to give off a lot of moisture. So, if you have a lot of indoor plants in your home you may want to consider moving them to a ventilated area or even outside. Having too many plants indoor could cause humidity levels to increase

9.Opening a window & Improving Ventilation

Sometimes the most basic solutions are the best. Just by opening in a window in the home could bring down high humidity levels.

Another option is just to leave a door open for a brief moment if the weather allows, allowing more clean air inside.

Methods like these may seem too basic, but you’re likely to see an improvement in your home when it comes to bringing in fresh air.

Whatever the reason that you may experience humidity in your home during the winter, there are numerous ways to combat it and make your home comfortable during those cold months.

By staying on top of any problems you may see come from humidity then you will be able to keep it under control.

They key to reducing moisture in the home is to have continuous air exchange throughout the home. By doing this it will keep the humidity at lower levels while keeping an even temperature in the home.

As you approach the winter months you want to prepare yourself on ways to keep your home in the best condition to fight off humidity indoors.

Find out what works for you within your home and stay on top of the elements so they don’t get a foothold and cause any preventable damage.

When To Call a Professional

If you are experiencing high levels of humidity in your home and are unable to get it under control you may want to consider contacting an HVAC professional.

They have a better chance of pinpointing the problem and fixing it quick.

You can always try and make sure the home has proper ventilating and maybe use a dehumidifier, but if the problem persists then a professional may be what you need.

You don’t want it ignore the problem and allow the humidity to continue as it can lead to growth of mildew and mold and cause even more damage to the home.

You want to catch the problem early before it escalates into something more severe.

That is where a professional comes in and give your home a thorough looking over and rectify the situation.