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Symptoms Of High Humidity In Your Home

10 Symptoms Of High Humidity In Your Home

Living in a humid environment is as bad as living in an arid environment. The high humidity will endanger your health and gradually deteriorate your home.

Using a hygrometer is a simple way to identify the high humidity, but there are also various symptoms of high humidity in your home that can help you make the judgment. 

Once you notice the signs I list below, you should take some actions to deal with the excess moisture to prevent any potentially dangerous situations.

1. Clammy air

Sometimes, your feeling is the best detector for moisture in the air.

As the indoor humidity level increases, your sweat is not able to evaporate quickly and cling to your skin, giving you a sticky feeling. Furthermore, the moist air can be heavy, making it difficult to inhale.

2. Condensation on windows and doors

condensation on window and door

Condensation will form when humid air comes into contact with a cooler surface. As you may be aware, windows, doors, mirrors, and toilet seats typically have a lower temperature than the surrounding environment.

If you see foggy windows or doors start to appear in your house, it is a sign that the room is warm and humid. Condensed water will seep into the crevices, promoting mold growth and destroying the interior of your home.

3. Peeling ceiling 

The ceiling is usually cooler than other surfaces in the room and the humidity is higher at the ceiling level due to the evaporation process, condensation can show up there even more frequently. With time, the water will seep through, causing the ceiling to swell, develop water stains, and peel.

4. Damaged paint and wallpaper

Paint and wallpaper can resist a certain amount of water these days. However, if they are exposed to the high humidity constantly, surfactant leaching will happen, resulting in brown or white spots on the surface. 

Water will form a water bubble on the exterior paint if it penetrates the wallpaper or paint.

5. Mold and mildew on the walls and other surfaces

visible molds

Mold and mildew will thrive in a high-humidity environment.

If you notice black or green patches on the walls or other surfaces, it is most likely that these pesky creatures are wreaking havoc.

The ideal humidity level is between 35 and 55 percent. Mold, mildew, and dust mites will begin to grow whenever the humidity level exceeds 60%, especially when it reaches 70%.

They are not only unpleasant to look at, but they also endanger you. Mold spores can disperse into the air and continue to look for new homes.

Your body is a good place for mold to live and when they get in your body, it will trigger allergic reactions, cough, lung infections, and other respiratory issues. 

On top of it, mold and mildew will also damage your home, causing the collapse of ceilings and falling down of walls. 

6. Musty smell

Sometimes, mold and mildew can thrive in invisible places. But you can know their existence according to the musty smell in the house. 

Don’t leave it untreated even if you can’t see them. It is possible that your house and your health have been damaged when you see them become visible.

7. Warping and rotting wood

Wood is a type of material that can absorb moisture. When there is excess moisture in the environment, the moisture will get into it, leading to swelling at the beginning.

If moisture remains in the gaps between planks for an extended period of time, it will be unable to return to its original shape, resulting in warping.

Aside from that, the excessive moisture will also foster fungal growth, which will cause wood rot. Therefore, rotting wood is also an important indicator of high humidity in the house.

Because fungus can be inhaled into the body, warping and rotting wood can cause health problems. Meanwhile, it can cause structural damage to your home, putting you in danger.

8. Allergies get worse

As I previously stated, excess humility can make the room become the breeding ground of mold, mildew, and fungi.

All of these microorganisms have the potential to release allergens into the air. If your allergies worsen or you have an asthma attack, this is a sign that your room is too humid.

9. Sleeping disorder

Again, sweating helps our bodies regulate body temperature. When we live in a damp environment, however, the perspiration process is hampered, causing our bodies to try even harder to cool us down by sweating more.

This will cause dehydration and overheating, as well as disrupt our sleep. Excess humidity’s respiratory effects will also have an impact on our sleep quality.

10. Headache

Studies have proven the link between high humidity and headache. The mold associated with high humidity as well as the barometric pressure is the trigger of migraines. 

Conclusion 

High moisture levels could cause adverse effects on your family and your house. If you’re not sure if your house is humid, you can tell by the symptoms I mentioned in this post.

When the air feels heavy and clammy or has a muggy odor, it may be time to turn on your air conditioner or dehumidifier.

If molds and fungi are showing up and water bubbles coming out from the wall and ceiling, the moisture is building up. 

Sometimes, excess moisture will also be related to headaches, asthma, and poor sleep quality. 

If you want to know why your house is so humid, check the post here.

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Liz Yang is the founder of Airsmartly. She has been working at home for a few years and realizes that the performance of the HVAC system plays such an important role in our life. She has tested more than 150 products in person, including humidifiers, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and ACs, and wants to share tips about using or troubleshooting these products with you. Her uncle is an HVAC expert with over 30 years of experience in the field, and often offers assistance when she is unsure how to handle a situation. He is also in charge of reviewing the articles on this site.

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