Home Improvement Tips to Keep Your Home Cool

Maintaining relative humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent is one of the best ways on how to improve home comfort, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.   

The problem:  Its level reaches more than 60 percent through the seasons.  This kind of setting degrades comfort because your home, in this case, can act as a wick to absorb outdoor humidity.   So in today’s article, let’s talk about ways of reducing indoor humidity along with home improvement tips to keep your home cool and comfortable through the seasons.

Turn the fans on

Leave the fans on the thermostat working even when you’re away to improve air filtration and circulate air.  And to circulate it better, turn the overhead fans on, but off when you’re not in the room because they won’t do much.  Finally, save money by turning the fan mode off when you’ll be gone for a few days.

Use high capacity dehumidifiers or air scrubbers

Air scrubbers or dehumidifiers can reduce your home’s relative humidity levels that in turn prevent molds, mildew and dust mites from growing. Regarding comfort, it aids in keeping optimal humidity levels and helps your AC function well to cool indoor air and eliminate excess moisture.

These devices can also reduce odors, getting rid of that rotting and musty smell lingering in the air.  Dehumidifiers also reduce mold accumulation and development in your linens, furniture, and clothing. They can also help you prevent skin irritation, respiratory infection, and allergies.

But are these airs scrubbers noisy? No, high-capacity models are not disruptive though because they operate quietly without you noticing it even there.

[Why is it important to keep the right moisture level in your home?   It keeps the optimal function of HVAC systems especially in the summer when average relative humidity should be between 30-45 percent or lower than 40 percent in the winter to prevent window condensation.]

Nevertheless, problems can be prevented with the right humidity level. And with an efficiently working HVAC, you can keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Here is a useful infographic outlining all the things to know about managing home humidity levels through the seasons.

Get an annual HVAC maintenance at least once a year

It is an essential step to up your home’s comfort level because it can ensure your AC system is working at its top condition. The HVAC pros are going to clean the dust and debris off the system’s major parts, which would otherwise be damaged by buildups. They will also test the overall AC function and perform repairs to prevent large ones that might surface later.

In short, AC systems cool the air down and remove humidity and moisture.  Get regular maintenance to ensure its efficiency.

Apply some lifestyle changes

Do not run the air conditioning system frequently if you could notice that it is short cycling or turning on and off for short bursts.  When showering, turn the exhaust fan on and do not close the door if possible.

Ensure proper ventilation

Make sure that there is enough ventilation in the bathrooms and kitchen, among other areas where moisture is present. You should also turn the vent or exhaust fans on and leave them on to remove moisture. You should also get additional fans if moisture is causing high humidity levels in your home.

Check insulation

Proper insulation keeps particles out your home and retains heat and cold.   With insulated walls, you can also prevent warm and cool air from escaping or entering through gaps.

Consider weatherstripping and caulking

Apply weatherstripping materials around windows and doors for an airtight seal that will keep cool or warm air from escaping and prevent too much humidity from seeping inside your home.   

Just like weatherstripping, caulking is also essential.  It is done to line materials and surfaces that might be in contact with moisture, and a few include toilets, sinks, faucets, and tubs. Caulking can also be applied in seams or around the windows.

Final Thoughts

There you have your quick list of tips to keep your home cool and comfortable through the seasons.  Keeping your home at optimal and ideal temperatures, you can also keep your HVAC system working at top peak performance and efficiency, which also translates to energy savings down the road aside from improving indoor air quality and comfort.

And again, things such as ensuring proper relative humidity levels to prevent moisture buildup, keeping allergens and pollutants out your home with regular vacuuming and using a high capacity dehumidifier that offers benefits, including keeping proper humidity in the air, to name a few, are important steps that you might want to consider.