As summertime arrives in Portland, you probably look forward to the sunshine after winter’s cold and dark months. However, warmer weather also brings challenges when it comes to keeping your home comfortable. Along with warmer temperatures, humidity can become a major challenge.
Controlling Indoor Humidity
Relative humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in your home’s air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold at a specific temperature. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ideal indoor relative humidity is between 35% and 50%. Staying within this range supports comfort, protects your home, and helps reduce energy costs.
Comfort and Well-Being
Excess humidity makes your home feel warmer than it actually is. That sticky, muggy sensation happens because humid air slows the body’s natural cooling process. When the air is saturated with moisture, sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily, leaving you feeling overheated and uncomfortable. Prolonged exposure to high humidity can even contribute to symptoms associated with respiratory conditions such as allergies and asthma. Controlling humidity in your home increases comfort and also protects your family’s health.
Protecting Your Home’s Interior
High humidity doesn’t just impact how you feel. It can also take a toll on your home. Moisture buildup creates the perfect conditions for mold and mildew, which can damage walls, flooring, and insulation.
Wood floors, furniture, and cabinetry are also vulnerable. Excess moisture can cause them to swell, warp, or crack over time. Wallpaper may begin to peel, and electronics can suffer from internal condensation and corrosion if humidity levels remain unchecked. Investing in reducing your home’s moisture levels during summer can protect your home from expensive damage.
Energy Efficiency and HVAC Longevity
Removing excess humidity can make your home feel cooler, even if the temperature stays the same. This means your air conditioner doesn’t need to work as hard to keep you comfortable. As a result, you may use your AC less frequently, which can lower your energy bills and reduce wear and tear on your HVAC system. Over time, this can help extend the life of your air conditioner and reduce the frequency of costly repairs.
Methods of Controlling Humidity
There are several effective ways to maintain healthy indoor humidity levels throughout the summer to improve indoor air quality.
Whole-House Dehumidifier Systems
A whole-house dehumidifier integrates directly with your HVAC system to control moisture throughout your entire home. Unlike portable units with limited capacity, a whole-home system treats the air circulating through your ductwork. This makes it far more effective at maintaining consistent humidity levels.
When our technicians install a whole-house dehumidifier, we begin by assessing your HVAC setup to ensure compatibility. Not every system is a one-size-fits-all solution. Your home’s size, duct layout, and any respiratory issues your family members have all factor into the type and capacity of the model we recommend. We also evaluate placement to ensure there’s adequate airflow around the dehumidifier and that it can be installed near your plumbing for drainage.
Once you select the model, we install it into your return ductwork, typically near your air handler. This allows the system to pull moisture from the air before it enters your cooling system and circulates back into your home. Most models are connected to a drain line, so you will never have to empty the reservoir tank, which is a hassle with portable models.
Professional installation also includes checking the system’s electrical connections, calibrating controls, and ensuring the unit is sealed and secured to prevent air leaks. We’ll test it thoroughly to make sure it’s removing moisture efficiently without restricting airflow through your HVAC system.
Maintenance is relatively minimal, but like any system, it needs periodic care. We recommend scheduling regular service to inspect interior coils, clean or replace the filter, and flush the drain line. Over time, sediment or mineral deposits can build up and create clogs that may lead to water damage if not addressed. Coils can also freeze up during extreme heat and humidity, so it’s essential to keep them clean and catch early signs of malfunction before minor issues turn into major problems.
Exhaust Fans
Certain areas of your home produce more humidity than others, especially bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Everyday activities like showering, cooking, and running appliances introduce moisture into the air. Without proper ventilation, this excess humidity can build up quickly.
Exhaust fans play a critical role in managing moisture in these spaces. When properly installed and vented to the outdoors, not just into the attic or another part of the home, these fans help remove humid air before it spreads to other rooms. In bathrooms, you should run your exhaust fan during and for at least 15–20 minutes after a shower to clear out lingering moisture. In the kitchen, range hoods with external venting are ideal for drawing steam and cooking smells out of the home.
Basements are another area in your home that can benefit from ventilation because they tend to get moist. A dedicated ventilation system can solve this issue. Installing one may be particularly important if you have remodeled your basement or use it often.
Sealing Up Gaps and Cracks
Small gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and your home’s foundation may seem minor, but they can let in a surprising amount of humid air. When warm, moist outdoor air seeps inside, it not only raises your indoor humidity levels but also makes it harder to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature. As a result, your air conditioner may have to work harder than necessary, increasing energy costs and putting additional strain on your system.
Sealing these gaps is a straightforward and cost-effective way to support humidity control. You can use weatherstripping and caulk for doors and windows. Expanding spray foam works best to seal larger gaps, like those around plumbing that protrude from your foundation.
Upgrade Your Insulation
Beyond sealing up gaps and cracks, having a professional evaluate the insulation in your walls and attic may be worth it. An inspection can help identify problem areas where upgrades will make the biggest difference. For example, older homes often lack sufficient attic insulation, a common source of heat gain and moisture intrusion in the summer.
Duct Condition
Ductwork plays an under-appreciated role in managing indoor humidity levels. Leaky or poorly sealed ductwork can significantly impact indoor humidity levels by allowing moist air from unconditioned spaces like attics or crawl spaces to enter the duct system. This added moisture gets distributed throughout the home, leading to a rise in indoor humidity. On the other hand, if ducts are leaking air out, conditioned air may never reach certain rooms, causing uneven temperatures and humidity imbalances.
Dirty or obstructed ductwork can also restrict airflow, which interferes with your system’s ability to dehumidify effectively. When airflow is compromised, the system may short cycle or struggle to pull enough moisture out of the air. Additionally, if ducts are not properly insulated, condensation can form on or inside the ducts, adding more moisture to your home. Maintaining well-sealed, clean, and insulated ductwork is essential for keeping indoor humidity under control and helping your HVAC system perform at its best. To avoid this, get a professional duct cleaning every three to five years and have their condition inspected during HVAC maintenance visits.
Contact Your Local Professionals
At Climate Control, we have been serving the residents of Portland, OR and the surrounding areas since 1989. We install both whole-home dehumidifier and humidifier systems. You can also count on us for all your other indoor air quality needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced technicians.
