Managing temperature and humidity

Managing temperature and humidity in a home is essential for maintaining comfort, promoting good health, and protecting your property. Proper control helps prevent issues like mold growth, condensation, and discomfort caused by excessive dryness, heat or cold. Effective management involves using tools like thermostats, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, exhaust fans, and smart monitoring devices. Thermostats and smart monitoring devices can help you manage humidity and temperature as well as track them. By maintaining optimal indoor conditions, typically around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 degrees Celsius) with 30 to 50 percent humidity, you can ensure a healthier and more comfortable living environment.

Ensure adequate ventilation

Proper ventilation is also key to maintaining indoor air quality and preventing excess humidity buildup. Homes that are very airtight may experience lingering cooking smells, condensation on windows, or stale air, indicating a need for better airflow. Using exhaust fans, opening windows strategically, or installing an air exchanger can help regulate indoor humidity and prevent moisture-related issues. Balancing insulation with adequate ventilation ensures a comfortable and healthy living environment year-round.

Keep windows closed at the right times

Opening windows at the wrong time can let in humidity and hot air during summer, making your home feel warmer. In winter, it allows heat to escape, forcing your heating system to work harder and increasing energy costs. To improve energy-efficiency, keep windows closed during extreme weather and only open them for ventilation when temperatures are mild, air quality is good, and humidity levels are low.

Use heavy curtains or thermal blinds

Windows can be a major source of heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Installing thick, insulated curtains or thermal blinds can help regulate indoor temperatures by keeping the cold out in the winter and blocking excessive heat in the summer. Consider choosing light-colored curtains for the summer to reflect heat and darker ones in winter to absorb warmth.

Use kitchen and bathroom fans

Kitchen and bathroom fans are another method to controlling household humidity and maintaining a comfortable temperature. They can also prevent mold growth (excess humidity promotes mold growth) and promote good indoor air quality.

Running a kitchen or bathroom fan will:

• Remove steam from cooking.
• Remove moisture from the bathroom.
• Promote proper ventilation to maintain ideal indoor humidity.
• Reduce stale, humid air.
• Cool down the space by removing moist, hot air.