Have you noticed that your apartment is more humid than the outdoors? This is probably because the space is entirely closed up during the summer.
When the air conditioner is on, you leave the apartment sealed up. As a result, the humidity level increases due to the moisture buildup in the home.
This guide details all the reasons why it is often more humid in the apartment than outside.
Humidity Inside the Apartment Is Higher Than Outside
Humidity is essential in apartments because it minimizes the spread of airborne diseases. It also keeps your apartment’s health at a good level.
However, this can be a problem when moisture is trapped, and humidity rises. Too much humidity can lead to various issues.
Some of these include causing the air to be wet, sticky, and hot. Additionally, germs also begin to accumulate as well as mold and mildew.
Excessive moisture in the house can cause damage to the insulation and structure of the apartment. All in all, living in your apartment can become uncomfortable and unhealthy.
It is quite common for apartments to be more humid inside than outside. There are actually a couple of reasons behind this phenomenon.
Take a look at the most common causes behind high humidity in apartments:
Lack of Ventilation
When there is poor ventilation and airflow in the apartment, humidity can rise. This is because when an apartment is closed off, moisture can build up.
Hence, humidity can rise when your air conditioner is not working properly or you don’t have fans. This is also true if you don’t keep your windows open.
Leaks or Cracks in the House
There is a chance that leaks and cracks in the bathroom or kitchen can also raise humidity. This is because such plumbing issues increase moisture buildup.
This usually happens when the pipes have not been sealed properly. When these go unnoticed in the house, they can certainly wreak havoc.
Hence, you should insulate these pipes to prevent the moisture from spreading and building up.
Excessive Dampness
This occurs when moisture begins to rise from the small holes in the soil. Through these holes, moisture penetrates into the walls and ceilings of the apartment.
This buildup increases gradually from the soil and travels up to apartments on the third floor. This is the most common reason for high humidity in basements.
Basements don’t have any windows, and they also have poor ventilation and insulation. This is why they can be humid.
Using Certain Appliances
There is a chance that certain appliances may also be causing the humidity to rise. For example, using showers and sinks excessively and improperly.
Any appliance that uses water may cause the humidity to rise over time. The excess water left from these appliances may saturate the air.
Your Activities
Simple activities that you perform on a daily basis may also cause high humidity in your apartment. For example, taking long, hot showers can contribute to high humidity because they increase moisture.
Other activities, such as washing the dishes and exercising, can also raise moisture and humidity. Lastly, when there are more people in the apartment, the humidity level increases.
This is because more body heat is generated from individuals. The more body heat is generated, the more sweating and moisture buildup there is.
Seasonal and Climate Change
Humidity tends to be higher in apartments than outside, mainly during the summer. This is because air conditioners are used more often during these warmer months.
As a result, they have more water and moisture in the air. Humidity builds up from this because evaporation is not given a chance to take place.
When evaporation takes place, humidity does not build up. However, this is not the case during the warmer months.
How to Tell if There Is Too Much Humidity In the Apartment
The ideal humidity level in an apartment should be between 30% to 50%. Anything above 50% will be considered high humidity, and that would be dangerous and uncomfortable.
The humidity level varies according to the season. For example, in the summer, it will likely be more humid than during the winter.
However, figuring out when there is too much humidity in the apartment can be slightly complicated. Luckily, there are some telltale signs that point toward high humidity.
For example, foggy windows and clammy skin are two visible signs of high humidity in an apartment. Additionally, look out for wet stains, dark spots, or discoloration on the ceiling or walls.
You should also check your house for signs of mold and mildew. Both of these are commonly caused by high humidity.
High humidity may also affect you physically, so you should check for other physical symptoms. For example, headaches, wheezing, shortness or loss of breath, and chronic cough.
If you are experiencing or noticing these symptoms, there is a chance of high humidity in your apartment. You should therefore get your home checked for high humidity.
How To Reduce Humidity In the Apartment
Now that you have detected humidity in your apartment, let’s look at how you can reduce it. It is imperative that you act fast to reduce the level of humidity in your apartment.
Excessive buildup of humidity can lead to several problems in the apartment that can be dangerous. They can also be uncomfortable for anyone living in the apartment.
Luckily, getting rid of and reducing humidity in the apartment is fairly straightforward. Take a look at the most effective and easiest ways to reduce humidity in your apartment:
Increase Ventilation Through Opening the Windows
Since humidity is caused by a lack of ventilation, you must do the opposite to remedy the situation. You should keep open windows in your apartment, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
These are areas where moisture may build up. When you open the windows, you let the stale air out. You should especially do this right after taking a shower.
Reduce Indoor Plants In Your Apartment
Plants absorb air in the environment and let out moisture naturally. This is why they may increase the humidity level in the apartment.
If you have too many indoor plants in the apartment, this may cause high humidity. Similarly, you should avoid overwatering your indoor plants.
Other than that, you can also place your plants on the patio or balcony instead of indoors.
Leave Your Clothes Outdoors to Dry
If you don’t have a drier, you should dry your wet clothes outdoors instead of indoors. Drying them indoors may be contributing to the raised humidity in your apartment.
You should also do the same with wet towels. It is best to dry these on the balcony of your apartment.
Reduce Activities That Would Contribute to Moisture and Humidity
As mentioned earlier, certain daily activities cause moisture buildup. These then increase the humidity level in the apartment.
Therefore, you should try to reduce such activities. For example, avoid using dishwashers and wash your dishes manually.
Additionally, cover your cooking pots while cooking. Lastly, take cold showers that are shorter.
Check for Leaks in the Apartments
Moreover, you should regularly keep checking your pipes for leaks and signs of corrosion. Identifying and fixing them early on can prevent damage to your apartment and high humidity.
Similarly, you should fix leaky pipes and replace old and faulty ones. Some common signs of leaky pipes include discoloration in the walls.
Other signs include a musty smell and bubbling paint on the walls.
Use Fans More Often
You should install fans in your apartment if you don’t have them already. This is because they increase ventilation indoors by moving around stale air.
This way, moisture does not build up, which would cause humidity to rise. Similarly, install exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms for more ventilation.
Get a Dehumidifier
The most obvious solution to high humidity in an apartment is a dehumidifier. This is designed to remove water vapors from the environment.
This is perfect for rooms where there are no windows and a lack of ventilation. These will ensure proper airflow in the room.
Reconsider Your Carpets
Carpets tend to retain moisture and lead to high humidity in the apartment. This is why bathrooms and kitchens don’t have carpets.
You should therefore reconsider keeping carpets in your apartment if you have too many of them. They trap the moisture and let out vapors in the air causing increased humidity.
Final Words
Apartments tend to have more humidity than the outdoors for several reasons. Some of these include having limited airflow and ventilation, taking excessive and hot showers, and more.
Leaky and faulty pipes may also lead to increased humidity as moisture builds up in the walls and air. Using air conditioners in sealed rooms where there is no ventilation can cause high humidity.
You should consider following the aforementioned remedies to reduce the level of humidity. These simple tactics will reduce the discomfort, humidity, and stuffiness in your apartment in no time.
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