Charleston has many notable attractions, such as historic sites, excellent cuisine, and beach access. While many enjoy the variety of activities Charleston has to offer, others prefer the area due to the climate. Unlike southern beach towns, Charleston and other surrounding areas experience both summer and winter temperatures. The one thing that remains the same in South Carolina’s climate is humidity is relatively high year-round, which can be a good and a bad thing. It is important to maintain the right amount of humidity in your home for multiple reasons, such as comfort and health. In this blog, we discuss the benefits of dehumidifiers in Charleston and how to tell if your home needs one.
Why Does Humidity Affect How Hot It Feels?
Too much humidity in a home can have a variety of negative impacts, such as your comfort. Due to humid air holding moisture, it can make your home feel warmer. When our bodies are too warm, we rely on the surrounding air to remove the sweat from our skin. If the air already holds water, the sweat evaporation process slows down. This process is why humidity makes the air feel warmer and result in discomfort.
Charleston, SC and surrounding areas experience high levels of humidity due to the city’s subtropical location off of the Atlantic Coast. To simply put it – being located near water increases the water vapor in the air when compared to a landlocked state. Warm water evaporates more quickly, which is why humidity levels rise the further south you go.
What Level Of Humidity Should I Have In My Home?
Contrary to popular belief, humidity isn’t always a bad thing. Many associate humidity with a hot and sticky feeling, but the truth is you and your home need some humidity to maintain a comfortable environment. Humidity levels in your home should remain between 30-50% to maximize comfort. Anything above 50% can have negative impacts on you and your home, while humidity below 30% can also be a disadvantage. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can help control appropriate humidity levels. Due to one device adding moisture and one removing it, humidifiers and dehumidifiers are typically used in different climates. Charleston homeowners typically use dehumidifying systems to help improve home comfort!
Related Article: Why Dehumidify Your Home?
How Do Dehumidifiers Benefit My Charleston Home?
Dehumidifiers are home devices that work to remove moisture from the air. When humidity levels are high, the moisture can enter your home. It is important to maintain the proper level of humidity in your home for multiple reasons. Below are four ways high humidity can affect you and your home:
- Increases Mold & Mildew Growth
- Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality
- Damages Wood Floor & Furniture
- Adds Moisture To Electronics
In climates such as Charleston, many homeowners choose to install a dehumidifying system due to the many benefits the device can provide. Below are five advantages to investing in a dehumidifier in Charleston and surrounding areas.
- Alleviate Allergies & Respiratory Problems
- Protect Household Items
- Improve Comfort
- Reduce Mold & Mildew Growth
- Prevent Musty Odors
Alleviate Allergies & Respiratory Problems
High humidity encourages mold and mildew growth, which can trigger asthma symptoms and cause irritation. Additionally, breathing in humid air can narrow and tighten your lungs and make it harder to breathe. If you have a respiratory illness, it is important to control humidity inside your home.
Protect Household Items
High levels of moisture can damage many aspects about your home. Wood floors and furniture can absorb moisture, expand, and crack or warp. Other household items that can be damaged by high humidity include books, photos, electronics, and instruments. Dehumidifiers can reduce the excess moisture levels and protect your valuable home items.
Improve Comfort
As we mentioned, humidity can make you feel hotter. If humidity levels are high within your home, it can create discomfort by the muggy and sticky feeling humidity holds. Dehumidifying systems can increase comfort while sleeping and frequenting around your home, as well as increase comfort while breathing.
Reduce Mold & Mildew Growth
Mold and mildew thrive in warm and moist conditions and can grow inside a humid home. Mold can grow rapidly in many places throughout your home, such as windows, basements, upholstery, and wood. Not only will this damage your home and personal items, but increase allergy symptoms. Dehumidifying systems can prevent humid conditions for mold and mildew to grow and restore your home comfort.
Prevent Musty Odors
Have you ever entered a room in your home and smelled a musty, damp smell? It is likely due to high humidity causing mold and mildew growth. When humid air comes into contact with cold surfaces, it results in condensation and musty odors. Placing a dehumidifying system in rooms with unpleasant, damp smells can remove the odor, stop mold growth, and improve comfort!
How To Tell If My Home Has High Humidity
It is important to know the humidity levels inside your home and work to improve or decrease the moisture. If your home has high humidity, there are a few ways to identify it. Below are ways to tell if your home has humidity in Charleston.
- Visible condensation on surfaces such as windows and mirrors
- Unexplained water stains on ceilings and walls
- Peeling wallpaper or paint
- Muggy feeling
- Mold growth
- Wet feeling surfaces, including furniture
If you are experiencing high levels of humidity, let our expert technicians help! We can check for humidity levels and help find the perfect solution for your home. If you are looking to install a dehumidifying system in Charleston or surrounding areas, give us a call to restore your home comfort!