How to Keep Your Home's Humidity Levels in Check

Balancing the humidity in your home can be a difficult task to accomplish. Too much can lead to mold, while too little can cause dry eyes and skin, and even compromise your immune system. Here on Long Island, we suffer from extreme seasonal highs and lows, which can make it difficult to maintain an ideal humidity level in your home.

Luckily for you, the experts at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration are here to offer their professional advice. Here are four ways you can keep your humidity levels in check:

1. Open your windows in the spring and fall: Ahh! Fresh air! During the spring and fall, you can easily regulate the humidity levels in your home by simply opening the windows. Take this a step further by opening two adjacent windows to create a cross breeze.

2. Invest in a dehumidifier for the summer months: With summer fast approaching, we recommend investing in a dehumidifier. This household item filters the air in your home and controls the amount of moisture present. Just choose your desired humidity level and let the appliance do the rest. You can truly set it and forget it, as long as you remember to empty the tank every so often.

3. Use a humidifier in the fall and winter: Ever get shocked when you touch the doorknob? This is a clear sign that your humidity levels are too low, something that frequently happens during the late fall and winter months. This can leave you susceptible to increased health risks, in addition to irritated skin and eyes.

4. Place plants around your home year-round: House plants are for more than decoration; they can actually help regulate the humidity levels in your home. Plants naturally clean the air, create oxygen, and balance humidity. Not all plants are created equal, though. Our top picks include:
• Peace Lilies
• Reed Palms
• English Ivy
• Boston Ferns
• Tillandsias
• Cactus Plants

As the temperatures rise, you may experience high humidity levels and mold in your home. If this happens to you, please DO NOT attempt to remove the mold yourself. Give the professionals at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration a call. We serve all of Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island; contact us online to learn more or dial (631) 940-8100.

How Humidity Affects Your Home

Humidity is a tricky thing – too much or too little of it can have a negative impact on your home and family. Long Island in particular is known to have high humidity levels in the summer, but very low levels during the winter. Here is how that humidity (or lack thereof) can affect your home.

When the humidity is too low

• The temperature feels cooler. Dry air feels colder than damp air. Adding humidity during the colder months can make your house feel warmer without turning up the thermostat.
• Static electricity is prevalent. If you get shocked every time you touch a doorknob, it could be a sign that your home's humidity levels are too low.
• Wood and paint deteriorate. When the humidity is too low for too long, the paint on your walls starts to chip and your wood floors and furniture can actually split from being so dry.
• Skin, eyes, and throat dry out. Low humidity can affect our bodies, too. Dry skin, eyes, nose and throat are some symptoms of low humidity.

When the humidity is too high

• The temperature feels warmer. Just like low humidity can make you feel cold, high humidity can make you uncomfortably warm. You have probably experienced this on a hot, muggy day.
• You find condensation in your home. When warm, humid air comes in contact with a cooler surface (like your windows), condensation occurs.
• Wood expands and can become damaged. Excess moisture in the air can seep into wood beams, floors, and furniture, causing it to expand and sometimes creating irreparable damage.
• Mold begins to grow. Long-term humidity problems can eventually lead to mold growth. Mold can grow and spread virtually anywhere moisture is present: indoors or out.

Some of the most common areas in the home for mold are basements, crawl spaces, attics, and bathrooms. Mold spores can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, allergic reactions, and respiratory infections.

If you find mold growing in your Long Island home, don't attempt to remove it yourself. Give the professionals at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration a call. We serve all of Nassau and Suffolk County; visit our website to learn more or dial (631) 940-8100.