UPDATED: March 3, 2023
There are visual signs to look for when determining if excessive moisture/high humidity is present in your home or property. The University of Minnesota Extension asks, “do you have symptoms of excess moisture in your home? Signs of high humidity in your home include:
• Condensation on windows during the winter.
• Excessive mildew in the bathroom.
• Mold growing on interior surfaces (corner of a closet, kitchen or bathroom).
• Peeling, cracking or blistering paint on exterior or interior finishes.
• Excessive dust mite populations (a cause of dust allergies).”1
There is a common test you can try to determine the relative humidity inside your home, apartment, or property.
The Ice Cube Test for Humidity:*
- Place two or three ice cubes into a glass, add water and stir.
- Wait three to four minutes.
- If moisture does not form on the outside of the glass, the air is too dry; you may need a humidifier. If water has condensed on the outside of the glass, the level of relative humidity is high.
*Note: Do not perform the ice cube humidity test in the kitchen. Cooking vapors may produce inaccurate results. You can place the glass in any other room where humidity is a concern.
High indoor relative humidity includes some general telltale signs. You should also watch for signs of frequent fogging of windows, which may indicate too much humidity. The appropriate relative humidity will allow only slight condensation along the edges or corners of windows. More condensation could be damaging. Moisture buildup or condensation on closet walls or room ceilings and walls also indicates high humidity.
Humidity should be monitored daily since outside temperatures will change. Consider purchasing a digital hygrometer (inexpensive and widely available) and check it regularly. By learning how to measure humidity, and thus monitoring your indoor air quality, we can avoid the negative effects associated with excess moisture. Indoor humidity levels will range, depending on the season. As recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor humidity should be kept below 60%. This range will not only provide the best comfort for residents but also helps to protect drywall, furniture, building materials, and more.
Managing Indoor Humidity
The weather outside can drastically affect the humidity levels of your home or apartment. Fortunately, it is simpler than one might imagine to maintain comfortable and consistent humidity in your property. A tankless dehumidification system is not only conveniently placed out of the way, it can also help you find the perfect balance of humidity throughout your property.
Innovative Dehumidifier Systems was developed to provide a supplemental dehumidification system that efficiently and consistently removes moisture. According to an article on building America homes, “supplemental dehumidification should be provided to maintain space relative humidity below 60%.”2 Designed for everyday use, the quiet and energy efficient IW25-4 In Wall and On Wall dehumidifier helps resolve the problems associated with high indoor humidity.
Discover how the IW25-4 dehumidifier condenses moisture in the air to reduce humidity levels in a variety of settings including multi-family apartments, luxury condos, senior housing, historic buildings, renovated properties, new construction, affordable housing, commercial settings and more.
IW25-4
Tankless Dehumidification System
Humidity Removal Solutions for your Property
Humidity Happens…
What’s your Plan to Lower High Indoor Humidity?
Sources:
1. Diane H. Corrin, Richard Stone & Patrick Huelman, (2018), Do you have too much moisture in your home? University of Minnesota Extension, accessed October 2021, <https://extension.umn.edu/moisture-and-mold-indoors/do-you-have-too-much-moisture-your-home>
2. Xia Fang, Jon Winkler & Dane Christensen (2011) Using EnergyPlus to perform dehumidification analysis on Building America homes, HVAC&R Research, 17:3, 268-283, DOI: 10.1080/10789669.2011.564260
