Tips for reducing humidity around the home

During both winter and summer, humidity can be a big problem. Aside from the unpleasant feeling of damp in the air, it can also cause damage to your home -  a problem, ironically, that's caused by these same homes. 

Modern insulation, which saves us money on our bills and keeps us warm, also unfortunately traps the moisture created by kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. At the same time, our labour saving appliances create more water vapour around the house. 

Water you going to do about it? 

Your first thought is probably air conditioner installation. An air conditioner can certainly be a simple solution, particularly in the problem areas of the kitchen and bathroom. 

But be aware that you can't just put any old air conditioner into whatever room you choose. The size of the unit has to fit the space it's going into. Generally, this means around one tonne of air conditioning for around 55 square metres of space. 

Make sure the drainage is directed away from the basement or attic,  because its structural integrity could be threatened by the moisture.

Pull the rug out from underneath moisture

A major cause of condensation build-up is the carpets that are so ubiquitous in the modern home. Sure, they can really pull a room together, and it's pleasant to walk around on a nice, warm furry carpet when it's cold instead of a cold, hard surface. But carpets also trap moisture, lowering the quality of indoor air. 

You might consider stripping the carpet out, and replacing it with a different material - tiles or maybe linoleum. If the cold is putting you off, then think about installing floor heating. 

Use the window of opportunity

We've talked before about how excessive condensation can be especially perilous for windows, where moisture can cause rotting and mildew.

If you're going to do some living room or bathroom DIY, Simply installing blinds and curtains, which help the window to retain the heat it absorbs in the day, can prevent this. You might also try double-glazing the window treatments, which lower the amount of the window's surface affected by air inside the house.