From damp springs to dry winters, keeping your indoor moisture balanced can feel like chasing a moving target. Too much moisture can result in mold or warped wood, while too little moisture can make your home feel dry and uncomfortable. AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, a leading home services provider in Farmington Hills, MI, is a team of experts who have assisted numerous homeowners in Michigan in finding the perfect indoor relative humidity level.
Why Homes Struggle with Humidity
Michigan weather can vary, which results in varying degrees of humidity. Most homeowners turn to forced air heat in the winter, which can dry out your home. Warmer months can flood your living space with humidity, especially if you lack proper ventilation. You might notice condensation on windows in the winter. In the summer, mildew might form in corners that don’t get much airflow. Moisture problems can lead to warped wood, musty smells, and allergies. Dry air can irritate your sinuses and airways, and unchecked humidity can lead to more serious issues like mold growth and structural damage.
Humidity Control Starts with Air Movement
When air in a home doesn’t circulate well, moisture can linger. Basements, closets, and bathrooms are known for experiencing this, but even bedrooms or kitchens can hold damp air if ventilation doesn’t occur.
Exhaust fans, often found in bathrooms and kitchens, can remove damp air instead of just circulating it. They can help remove the moisture produced by bathing, cleaning, or cooking. You can also open a window to clear out stale indoor air. The more optimal ventilation your home experiences, the more balanced relative humidity you experience.
Winter Air Dryness Issues
Your furnace pulls moisture out of the air and out of your skin, your furniture, and your walls. You might wake up with a dry throat or get more nosebleeds than usual when relative humidity is low. Running a whole-home humidifier can help restore balance. Adding moisture to the air helps reduce static electricity, keeps your skin from feeling dry, and keeps wood from cracking. By monitoring humidity levels closely and maintaining a balance between 35% and 50%, homeowners can ensure a comfortable living space.
Summer High Humidity Challenges
As the weather warms, humidity rises. Moisture finds its way through cracks, door gaps, and your foundation. While air conditioners help manage humidity, they only work well when properly sized and maintained. If your system switches on and off too quickly, it may cool the air without removing enough moisture, leaving the house cool but still humid. A whole-house dehumidifier helps where an air conditioner falls short.
Regular home maintenance can provide peace of mind by helping you control hidden sources of moisture. It’s important to pay attention to where outside air enters your home. Sealing gaps, adding weather stripping, and improving insulation can make a noticeable difference in how balanced and comfortable your home stays through the changing seasons. Regular maintenance of vents and ducts in these areas can also help control hidden sources of moisture.
Basements and High Humidity
Lower levels of a house tend to collect moisture. Even if you don’t have visible water leaks, the walls and floors can absorb dampness from the ground. That moisture can rise into the rest of the home, especially if the basement lacks proper ventilation or waterproofing.
You might notice a musty smell or dampness on the floor, even on warm days. Basements use a sump pump to handle water. A vapor barrier may be needed to stop moisture from creeping through the concrete. Even small cracks in foundation walls can pull water inside.
Using a dehumidifier in the basement can make a difference in humidity control. Better yet, whole-home dehumidifers lower moisture in the air throughout your entire house. Installing a sump pump is also a good way to both prevent flooding and lower the amount of built-up moisture. It’s beneficial to figure out where the moisture is coming from. Once you find the source, you can decide whether sealing, draining, or ventilating is the best option.
Daily Habits That Affect Moisture
Showers, cooking, doing laundry, and other activities add moisture to the air in your home. Changing a few habits can help. For instance, using lids when you cook traps the steam, preventing it from adding to indoor moisture. Hanging wet laundry outside keeps water from evaporating into the home. Running exhaust fans after a shower clears the room quickly. Overwatering houseplants can raise humidity and should be avoided.
It’s also helpful to track which rooms feel damp daily. Once you know where moisture builds up the fastest, you can focus on making those spots dry out more efficiently. You can use a smart hygrometer to collect data.
Your HVAC System Plays a Role
When working properly, an HVAC system helps regulate indoor humidity by circulating air and, in some cases, removing moisture. However, if filters are clogged, ducts are blocked, or the system is poorly maintained, airflow drops, and moisture can accumulate.
For example, running an air conditioner with a dirty filter can lower its ability to pull moisture from the air, leaving rooms cool but still humid. Likewise, a poorly designed HVAC layout may cause pockets of stagnant, damp air. It’s important to check filters regularly and replace them when they become dirty. If your system seems unable to control humidity, it may need a professional AC tune-up or furnace maintenance. An expert evaluation will look at factors like airflow, ductwork balance, and equipment sizing.
Watch for Trapped Moisture in Hidden Places
Moisture can hide in places you rarely look. This includes the inside of walls, under flooring, behind furniture, or in unused corners. If you’ve ever found mold growing on the back of a closet wall or noticed a soft spot on the ceiling, trapped moisture was likely the reason.
This buildup usually happens when air isn’t circulating or a slow leak is nearby. A small drip behind a washing machine, a leaky pipe in the wall, or a roof leak that only happens during inevitable storms can go unnoticed for weeks. Meanwhile, the moisture sits, seeps, and causes damage.
Regular checks around your home help catch these problems before they grow. Look for paint that bubbles or spots that have changes in texture. If unsure, moisture meters or thermal cameras can spot dampness behind the surface. Fixing the cause early saves money and avoids bigger repairs later.
Considering Your Home’s Building Materials
Every home is built from materials that react differently to moisture. Wood absorbs water from the air, which can cause it to swell, warp, or even crack when humidity levels swing too high or too low. You might notice doors sticking in their frames or hardwood floors that creak or buckle when the air gets too damp. On the other hand, when the air gets too dry, wood can shrink and pull away from trim or baseboards, leaving gaps.
Drywall also responds to changing humidity. Exposure to long-term moisture can soften, sag, or develop stains. In more severe cases, drywall may become a breeding ground for mold, especially hidden behind wallpaper or paneling. Metal parts in your home, like nails, screws, and framing connectors, can corrode faster when exposed to high humidity. That corrosion can affect the strength of the structure or even lead to unexpected repairs.
If you see trim pulling away from the walls in the winter, installing a whole-home humidifier may help restore balance. If you notice spongy floors near entry points or plumbing fixtures, it may be time to investigate possible leaks or hidden sources of moisture.
When your home’s relative humidity is between 35% and 50%, you breathe better, sleep better, and avoid damage. A few minor adjustments can make a big difference in how your home feels daily. In addition to indoor air quality and HVAC services, we handle plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, water heater services, repiping, water softener installation, and full bathroom remodels.
Contact AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical in Farmington Hills for assistance with controlling indoor humidity today.
