Dehumidifiers are undeniably the undisputed champion in regulating humidity levels in our homes. However, they are neither cheap nor easy to maintain. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.
If you’re living on a budget and can’t afford one of these contraptions, fret not! You have plenty of other options for keeping your home at optimal humidity levels. The good news: all it takes is a little ingenuity, time, and effort. Here’s a snippet of some of them:
How To Remove Humidity From A Room Without A Dehumidifier. First, invest in an air conditioner or fan. If you don’t have either, open the windows or doors to let in some fresh air. Plus, take shorter, colder showers. Third, obtain houseplants; fourth, fill large bowls with baking soda and distribute them throughout the room. Lastly, repair any leaks in pipes and faucets to avoid excess moisture buildup.
Basically, avoid any task, action, habit, or lifestyle change that will increase the humidity level in your home.
To delve deeper into this subject, I’ll explain some of the causes and signs of high humidity in a home, the benefits of maintaining constant low humidity, and how to reduce humidity in your home without a dehumidifier.
So, let’s dive right in!
What Causes High Humidity in a Home?
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Several factors can contribute to high humidity levels in a home, such as lifestyle preferences, house construction and design, and climate.
I know what you’re thinking – there’s no way my lifestyle choice or the architecture of my home can affect humidity levels. Oh, but it does! And the weather outside? It has an impact on your indoor air quality as well. Let me explain all.
1. Lifestyle Preferences
Our everyday activities all contribute to the level of humidity in our homes. For example, do you take long showers or baths? If so, this could be one of the major contributors to high humidity levels in your home. Longer showers or baths mean more water evaporating into the atmosphere, resulting in increased humidity.
The same goes for drying wet clothes, steaming vegetables, cooking rice, boiling pasta, or doing laundry. In fact, any activity that generates steam adds moisture to the air, increasing humidity level. So, if you’re worried about high indoor humidity levels, consider changing some of these habits.
2. House Construction and Design
The materials used in constructing your home will also impact the indoor humidity levels. Brick walls absorb less moisture than wood walls, making them less humid.
Roofing material is another consideration: metal roofs tend to keep indoor humidity at bay, while asphalt roofs often result in high humidity levels indoors.
Lastly, the design of your windows. Single-paned glass windows allow outdoor air to seep in and increase humidity levels inside the home. However, double-paned windows offer better insulation from outdoor air and help lower the humidity inside your home.
So, depending on the construction and design of your home, humidity levels may vary significantly.
3. Climate
Mother Nature also affects indoor humidity levels. Residents in hot, dry climates such as Arizona and Nevada are likelier to experience high humidity levels because the dry climate leads to higher evaporation rates.
The opposite is true for residents in cold climates like Minnesota and Montana. Low temperatures lead to low evaporation rates and, subsequently, lower humidity levels.
So, understanding how different climates affect the humidity level in your home can help you adjust your behavior accordingly.
Signs That Your Home’s Humidity Levels Are High
Sighting signs of high humidity levels in your home is the first step toward a solution. Plus, it will save you money that you would have spent on expensive repairs or replacements. That is why you need to know how to remove humidity from a room without a dehumidifier
Below are some of the most common signs of excessive humidity:
1. Condensation
When warm air hits a cold surface, or humid air cools, the water vapor in the air turns into tiny droplets. Sometimes, these droplets accumulate on surfaces and create foggy conditions. Other times, they drip down walls, mirrors, and windows.
While this can indicate that your central heating system needs repair, it can also be due to excess moisture in the air. In either case, condensation signifies that you need to dehumidify your home.
2. Mold and Mildew
Mold grows best in moist conditions with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the most common spots for mold growth include window frames, bathtubs, sinks, carpets, and refrigerators.
The risk is even greater if you have any allergy or respiratory issues. As a result, it is critical to remove the mold as soon as possible by contacting a professional.
3. Black Stains on Wood
Black stains on furniture, baseboards, and doors are typically a sign of excess moisture in your home. These black marks are created by fungi that feed off moist wood.
If left untreated, the fungi will continue to grow, spreading their spores onto carpets and upholstery. Eventually, the staining will worsen, and damage may occur. Cleaning these spots with bleach might work at first, but unless you address the underlying issue—excess moisture— the stains will return.
4. Wet Smells in Your Home
Another telltale sign of high humidity is a musty odor emanating from various corners of your home. High humidity causes wetness, which leads to mold growth and other allergens like dust mites.
The smells aren’t always detectable immediately; instead, they gradually increase over time. They’re most common in basements and bathrooms where there’s plenty of dampness to nurture mold growth.
5. Peeling Paint on Walls
Dampness can lead to peeling paint, which is especially common in places like kitchens and bathrooms. As it dries out, the water-logged wallpaper starts to peel back, leaving ugly patches in its wake.
The same goes for wallpaper and ceiling paints. If you spot any peeled paint or damaged wallpaper, your house has a high humidity level.
Reasons for Lowering Humidity
High humidity has many negative health effects, ranging from mild discomfort to sickness. Furthermore, it can result in mold and bacteria, physical discomfort, damage to home furnishings and other household items, and structural damage in buildings.
Unfortunately, high humidity is brushed off as a minor inconvenience by many people. But don’t be deceived! You may not notice it at first, but over time it will affect your day-to-day life.
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, for example, humid conditions can cause flare-ups. Worse, excess moisture encourages the growth of mold, dust mites, and other allergens that can aggravate allergies and asthma.
Asthma symptoms like wheezing and coughing are among the more serious problems caused by high humidity levels. Sufferers may also experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
And if that weren’t enough, high humidity also causes dry skin, chapped lips, static electricity buildup, curly hair (or even worse, hair loss), and cracked paint on walls and furniture. Basically anything exposed to the air for too long suffers when humidity rises.
Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of high humidity without breaking the bank. And I’m not talking about a humidifier! There are several low-cost, natural solutions. Honestly, most are “do-it-yourself” strategies that require minimal effort.
Best Ways to Dehumidify a Room without a Dehumidifier/How To Remove Humidity From A Room Without A Dehumidifier
Before you throw in the towel and buy a humidifier, consider these simple ways to reduce humidity in your home. You never know, they might work for you!
1. Open Doors and Windows
It’s one of those things that seem too easy to be true but actually works. Opening windows and doors can dramatically lower humidity levels by allowing fresh air from outside to circulate into the house. The more open space in your home, the better this will work.
However, be mindful of weather conditions. If it’s raining or snowing outside, don’t leave your doors and windows open; moisture may seep inside instead. Likewise, if you live in an area with high humidity levels all year round, opening windows and doors won’t have much effect either. In such cases, try other dehumidifying methods.
2. Place Houseplants in Your House
Houseplants not only add visual appeal and character to your home but also serve as natural humidifiers. By absorbing water from their surroundings, houseplants effectively decrease the air’s moisture. Plus, they regulate indoor pollution levels by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
However, not all plants are ideal for lowering room humidity. To maximize its effectiveness, choose a plant with large surface areas like Boston ferns, snake plants, peace lilies, and spider plants.
For best results, place them near an east-facing window (for morning sun) where they’ll get plenty of indirect sunlight. Just remember to mist the leaves every few days, so they don’t dry out.
3. Take Shorter, Colder Showers
Did you know that taking longer showers can raise the humidity level in your bathroom? In fact, it is one of the leading causes of high humidity levels in average homes. By spending less time in the shower, you’re significantly reducing the amount of steam in the air.
Similarly, warm water evaporates at a high rate, increasing the humidity levels in your bathroom. To fix this problem, take shorter showers and use cold water whenever possible. Also, consider leaving the bathroom door open while showering to allow some of the moist air to escape into other rooms of the house.
4. Use Alternative Dehumidifiers
When I refer to alternative dehumidifiers, I mean non-electrical solutions that rely on passive mechanisms to remove moisture from the air. These include baking soda, rock salts, rice, and charcoal. Place any of these substances in bowls around the room, particularly near sources of excess moisture, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.
These will trap excess moisture in the air, which condenses and drips down onto the bowl.
Alternatively, for a more effective desiccant, purchase commercial products like calcium chloride. Make sure to follow the instructions for proper usage and disposal.
5. Repair Any Leaking Pipes
The bathroom is one of the areas you need to be extra vigilant. Any leaks in your faucets, pipes, or toilet can lead to increased humidity levels in your home. Start by replacing old leaky toilets, faucets, and hoses.
Next, look for visible signs of leakage, such as small droplets on the ceiling, chipped paint, wet spots on the floor, and a musty odor. You might want to hire a professional to inspect your basement, attic, and crawl space. The last thing you want is a hefty water bill from a flooded house.
Finally, clean up spills and repair dripping faucets as soon as they occur. Do this, and you’ll have solved high humidity levels in your home in no time.
6. Turn on the Air Conditioner
If you find yourself in a bind and need to dehumidify your home immediately, turn on the air conditioner. It uses a refrigerant to cool the air, lowering the humidity levels. This process removes moisture from the air and sends it into your home’s A/C coils. The system then cycles the air and releases it into your home.
However, using the air conditioner isn’t a long-term solution. It will only temporarily alleviate the problem, and once turned off, the humidity levels will rise again. What’s more, operating your air conditioner will increase your electricity bill.
So, what’s the best way to dehumidify a room without an air conditioner? The answer is all of the above.
Faqs On How To Remove Humidity From A Room Without A Dehumidifier
1. Can I make my own dehumidifier?
Yes, all you need is to place a container with hygroscopic substance (desiccants) into the humid room, and it dehumidifies the room.
2. But do natural dehumidifiers work?
Even though natural dehumidifiers are not as efficient as commercial units, they effectively reduce humidity levels in a room. Natural dehumidifiers are cheap and will not hike your power bills.
3. What can I use to absorb moisture in a room?
Place baking soda or rock salt in a bowl and place it in the humid room and it will bit by bit absorb moistness from the air.
4. Does burning candles reduce humidity?
Yes, however, you have to ensure that the candles you’re burning are not made from hydrocarbons. Candles made from hydrocarbons release carbon iv oxide and water vapor when burnt; hence not ideal for a humid room.
5. What material absorbs moisture?
Cotton is the common material used to absorb moisture. Other materials include viscose-based fibers, modal and micro-modal fibers.
6. Does DampRid lower humidity?
Yes, it will naturally remove excess humidity from your room and house at large.
Final Thoughts
The lack of a dehumidifier does not have to be a major setback. Even without one, there are numerous ways to dehumidify a room.
You can open windows and doors to create a cross-breeze to lower the humidity in the air. Turn on fans or A/C units to circulate the cool or dry air around the room. Place bowls of baking soda throughout your house to collect excess moisture.
Honestly, the list could go on forever. The point is, you don’t need a dehumidifier to maintain a low humidity level in your home. Just use what you’ve got!