Tips to Combat Excess Humidity in Your Home

With the heat of summer soon to descend upon us, smart manufactured home owners are taking steps to ensure they get the most for their cooling dollar in the months ahead. HVAC systems are undergoing inspection and, in some instances, replacement, while doors and windows are being examined to detect and repair any point of leakage that might enable that cool but pricey air to escape.

It is ironic to note, then, that many of these same dollar-saving precautions contribute to another problem, that of excess humidity in your mobile home. To be sure, your home requires a certain level of air-borne moisture to avoid shrinkage but excess humidity can result in discomfort for you and damage to your interior in the form of stained ceilings, warped walls and musty odors. Some of that humidity stems from basic human activities, such as cooking, bathing and even mopping; others result from the way residents interact with devices in the home. Here are a few tips for controlling the level of humidity in your home.

Ventilator Blues: Your units various built-in ventilators comprise the first line of defense in the battle against excess humidity. Take a moment to ensure they are working properly and clear away any obstructions – even around that hard-to-reach ventilator behind the dryer. Also make sure to run the ventilator over the stove or in the bathroom for a time after you’ve finished cooking or showering to help it draw as much moisture out of the air as possible.

Just the Right Size: Homeowners living in particularly warm climates – yes, I’m looking at you, desert Southwest – often adopt a bigger-is-better point of view when buying an AC unit. That is not the best strategy, as research reveals that too-large equipment will turn on and off frequently, enabling humidity to build up. The smarter approach is to dig a little deeper and research which AC unit will most efficiently and effectively cool your particular square-feet.

Filters Fun: Few of us give much thought to HVAC maintenance; subconsciously, we blithely assume the unit will run in perpetuity without any input from us. This could not, however, be further from the truth. A first step in changing this mindset is to regularly inspect and replace the unit’s filters. Homeowners should go with pleated filters whenever possible, as these control dust as well as humidity.

Ducts Soup: Heating and cooling in manufactured homes are distributed through ducts in the floor or ceiling. Covering or closing these registers creates a system imbalance that, in turn, creates cold spots, which increase the potential for moisture condensation. The answer: leave them open. In addition, open the windows for at least a short time each day to let fresh air in.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.