While winter in Texas City, TX, may not be extreme when it comes to temperature fluctuations, there are other challenges to consider. One of them is the relative humidity in your residence. The winter air is typically very dry in the northern parts of the country. However, most of Texas will experience temperature fluctuations that increase indoor humidity. It’s essential to manage indoor humidity with the help of our team at George’s Air Conditioning. This ensures comfort but also protects against problems like mold growth.
What Causes High Humidity?
We mentioned that temperature fluctuations can lead to high indoor humidity. The first sign of this issue includes condensation on windows and doors. Outdoor humidity is often above 60% in Texas during the wintertime. If you have your windows open or there are gaps and cracks in your home, this can allow moisture to come inside. Cooking, cleaning, and showering are activities that can raise indoor humidity.
Your furnace can help remove some excess moisture in your air. On mild winter days, you may not run your HVAC system very often. This leads to relative humidity rising above the recommended 50% and negatively impacting indoor air quality.
Strategic Use of Your HVAC System
It’s important to use your HVAC system in a specific manner to help control indoor humidity. You don’t have to run your heating equipment for long periods to combat humidity. Rather, short cycles while maintaining an indoor temperature of about 65 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal.
Avoid dramatic changes in your indoor temperature. If you’re going to be at work all day or on vacation, don’t drop your thermostat settings by more than a few degrees. You can use a smart thermostat to adjust and monitor your indoor environment remotely. If your thermostat has a built-in hygrometer, you can receive alerts when indoor humidity is rising. This allows you to act by running your HVAC system or adjusting whole-home dehumidification equipment.
Make sure that your thermostat is set to the “auto” feature, not the “on” function. The “on” setting runs the fan without heating or cooling or removing moisture.
Make sure that you keep up with routine maintenance for your HVAC system. Change the filter in your unit every 30 to 90 days, or as recommended by the filter manufacturer. This will promote proper airflow and prevent pockets of high humidity.
Schedule annual HVAC inspections and maintenance. Our team can inspect important components, ensuring optimal airflow. We can perform repairs when necessary to prevent humidity problems.
Improving Home Ventilation
Ventilation allows you to remove moisture and keep air circulating through your home. If you don’t utilize ventilation, you can experience humidity increases and condensation on surfaces. It’s best to start in areas of high humidity, such as your kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom. Basements and crawl spaces can also be very humid. Use exhaust fans to remove humid air. You can also open your windows for 5 to 10 minutes on mild days to refresh the air.
Using a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
You may already have a portable dehumidifier in your home. While this is a good way to remove moisture from areas with high humidity, it doesn’t address the entire residence. Instead, consider having a professional install a whole-home dehumidifier on your HVAC system. It integrates easily with your ductwork, removing moisture as air passes through during the heating cycle.
Whole-home dehumidifiers use a drain line to remove moisture from your HVAC system and move it away from your home. This eliminates the need for emptying a collection tank. You’ll need to periodically inspect your drain line to ensure it’s not backing up from sediment or mineral buildup.
Upgrade to a smart thermostat that is equipped with a built-in hygrometer. This allows you to monitor indoor humidity from any location. You can use your smart device to adjust your whole-home dehumidifier.
This equipment works well with other methods of decreasing humidity, such as ventilation and circulation. Keep air moving through your HVAC system and dehumidifier by keeping vents and registers open.
Consider Your Daily Activities
There are several things we do each day that can add humidity to our indoor air. For example, cooking (especially boiling water) generates humidity. Cover your pots and pans when cooking to minimize the evaporation of moisture into the air.
Showers and baths are also a common way to increase indoor humidity. Try to use a cooler water temperature and reduce the time you’re running the water. Use your bathroom exhaust fan to remove moisture.
Don’t hang-dry clothing in your laundry room. This releases a lot of moisture into the air as water evaporates off the clothing.
Your dishwasher, washing machine, and other water-using appliances can generate indoor humidity. Run them intermittently and use other forms of dehumidification to control relative humidity.
If you have a lot of houseplants, consider removing some of them. Moist soil can increase the relative humidity in your home.
Sealing Up Your Home
Gaps and cracks throughout your residence can allow moisture to come in from the outdoors. Inspect your home each year before the start of winter. Look for open spaces around windows, doors, and your foundation. Use products like weatherstripping and caulk to seal any gaps you find.
You may want to consider insulating exposed pipes as well. This prevents condensation from forming on the surfaces of pipes, which will then evaporate into the air.
Home Drainage and Foundation Issues
During a damp winter, the ground around your home is usually quite moist. This moisture can seep into your home, especially if you don’t have sufficient drainage. Inspect your gutters and downspouts before the start of winter. Ensure water is draining away from your foundation. Also, look for standing water anywhere near your home, especially after it rains.
Addressing Condensation Accumulation
If you have condensation forming on surfaces, wipe it away immediately. If you allow it to remain, this will increase indoor humidity and promote the growth of mold. Not to mention, wood surfaces can rot, and metal surfaces can rust from condensation.
Upgrade Your HVAC System
If you have a very old HVAC system, consider an upgrade before winter starts. Inefficient equipment can lead to comfort concerns as well as high humidity. You may also have undersized or oversized HVAC equipment, which can cause problems. A modern unit can include features such as heat pump technology with humidity-controlling technology and a variable speed HVAC system. We can assess your home to determine the best course of action for your home.
Schedule an Appointment Today
With the right upgrades, maintenance, and practices, you can maintain optimal relative humidity in your home. Our team at George’s Air Conditioning is proud to serve the Texas City area. We can help with all your HVAC and humidity concerns. Contact us at George’s Air Conditioning in Texas City today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
