Your home provides protection from the weather, and it should be relatively comfortable year-round. However, if there are issues with your home, it can be more difficult to regulate the temperature inside your home and make for a more uncomfortable environment. If it’s humid outside and you find yourself asking, “Why is my house so humid?”, here are a few reasons why your house could be feeling humid and what to do about them:

1. Faulty HVAC systems can cause humid rooms.
2. Drafty windows and doors can contribute to a humid interior.
3. Siding issues can cause a humid house.
4. A humid house can be caused by issues with the roof.
5. Poorly insulated attics can create humid homes.
6. Unfinished basements can be humid.
7. A humid bathroom could be caused by poor ventilation or plumbing issues.
8. A humid kitchen could be caused by insufficient airflow or ventilation issues.
9. Humidity inside can mean not enough insulation around the home.

1. Faulty HVAC Systems Can Cause Humid Rooms

One of the reasons why your house could be humid is because of faulty or underperforming HVAC systems. If an air conditioner is not removing enough moisture from the air, it can result in a humid room. A/C units that are not the right size for the room they are cooling, whether that is too small or too big, tend to result in a more humid room.

If air conditioners are too large, they cool the room faster than they remove moisture, which results in more humidity in the room. Air conditioners that are outdated or underperforming can also cause your house to be humid. Poorly maintained AC units also tend to result in humidity problems. Clogged filters, dirty coils, and more can contribute to an underperforming AC unit and a humid room.

If you suspect your HVAC system is the source of your humidity problem, make sure it is in good shape and is the right system for your home (or unit for a specific room, if it is a window or portable AC unit). Check the unit and filters. Clean anything that needs to be cleaned and make necessary repairs or replacements.

Depending on what is going on and the system you have, you may need to have your HVAC system serviced. If everything with your HVAC system or AC unit is fine and you are still running into humidity issues, there is something else going on.

2. Drafty Windows and Doors Can Contribute to a Humid Interior

Outdated or damaged windows and doors can no longer properly insulate your home. This can result in your house being humid inside when it is humid outside, and make your HVAC system work harder to manage interior temperatures. This is why a humid home and drafty windows and doors are silent signs your house has problems.

Damage, cracked seals, condensation, and more are visible signs of drafty windows and doors. If your house is humid and you see these signs, it could be time to replace your doors and windows. This will re-seal and insulate your home and help keep the interior temperature more comfortable and consistent. And, if you need to replace doors and windows anyway, you take the opportunity to consider different styles and efficiency upgrades for even more benefits of new windows and doors.

3. Siding Issues Can Cause a Humid House

Any gaps or inefficiencies in your home’s exterior mean gaps or inefficiencies in its protective barrier. If it’s humid inside your house, issues with your siding could be a potential cause. If your siding is damaged, outdated, installed incorrectly, or poorly insulated, these can all contribute to temperature regulation issues inside your home, as well as other potential damage to your home. These can also be signs your house needs new siding. If your siding is the source of your humidity issue, replacing it should fix the problem.

4. A Humid House Can Be Caused By Issues With the Roof

Your roof is one of your home’s first lines of defense against the outside, and it is essential for properly protecting and insulating your home. Any issues with the roof itself or a lack of proper roof ventilation can contribute to humidity and inconsistent temperatures inside your home. Excessive temperatures and humidity inside your home can be a sign that you don’t have proper roof ventilation.

If your home’s humidity is caused by poor roof ventilation, you may not have to replace your roof, provided it is in good shape. In this case, fixing the ventilation should solve your problem. However, if you’re also seeing damage to the roof, missing shingles, and more, these are signs your roof needs to be replaced. A reputable home improvement contractor with roofing experience will be able to diagnose the issue with your home and determine whether your roof can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

5. Poorly Insulated Attics Can Create Humid Homes

Proper roof ventilation is important, and so is good insulation in your attic. Poorly insulated attics, especially without proper roof ventilation, tend to get very hot and humid in the summer and can affect the rest of the home, too.

This is also why not having enough insulation is one of the attic renovation mistakes to avoid. Provided your attic has no other issues, if poor insulation is the cause, adding insulation should resolve the problem. However, if there are other things causing your home to be humid, you will need to work with your contractor to address them.

6. Unfinished Basements Can Be Humid

Basements can have reputations for being humid. Humidity in the basement can be a sign that your basement has excess moisture and is also usually a sign of poor insulation in the basement. This can be a common issue with unfinished basements.

This can be one of the reasons why keeping an unfinished basement could be a mistake. If your basement is unfinished and humid, working with a contractor to handle any moisture issues or leaks and then finishing it should fix the problem.

If your finished basement is humid, you may have a leak somewhere, foundation issues, issues with basement windows, or another issue affecting insulation in the basement. An experienced contractor will be able to work with you to diagnose the source of the problem and recommend solutions based on what is going on.

7. A Humid Bathroom Could Be Caused By Poor Ventilation or Plumbing Issues

It’s normal for a bathroom to feel a little humid after it’s been used for a shower. However, this should clear out relatively quickly with the use of the exhaust fan. If your bathroom is still humid for a long time after a shower, even with the use of a fan, or is humid even when the bathroom has not been in use, you could be looking at an issue with ventilation or plumbing.

Bathrooms are high-moisture, high-humidity environments. Without good ventilation, the bathroom can be uncomfortably humid and will also be more prone to growing mildew and mold. Any issues with plumbing can result in excess moisture in the bathroom as well as leaks and water damage if issues are left unchecked.

What to Do If Your Bathroom is Humid

Depending on what is going on with your bathroom, here are a few things you can do if your bathroom is humid to help make it more comfortable:

• Air it out with windows, doors, and the exhaust fan.
• Check and clean the exhaust fan.
• Make sure the exhaust fan is venting outside properly.
• Replace and upgrade the exhaust fan.
• Replace bathroom windows if needed.
• Add a bathroom window if there isn’t one.
• Fix plumbing issues and upgrade fixtures.
• Remodel the bathroom.

Air Out the Bathroom and Check the Exhaust Fan

If your bathroom is humid and you do not currently crack open windows or doors or use the exhaust fan, start using what you have available to regularly air out the bathroom. You can also use a dehumidifier to help with your efforts.

If you do regularly use the exhaust fan properly and your bathroom is still more humid than you would like, check the exhaust fan and make sure it is clean, working properly, and venting outside appropriately. If needed, replace parts or replace and upgrade the exhaust fan. The exhaust fan is a key component of good bathroom ventilation, and it makes a big difference.

Consider the Bathroom Windows

If the exhaust fan is in good shape and working correctly, and your bathroom is still humid, look over your bathroom windows next. If your bathroom does not currently have a window, consider a small remodeling project to add one for better airflow and ventilation. If you see damage on your bathroom windows or signs of poor insulation, these are reasons to replace windows.

Just as drafty or poorly insulated windows and doors affect your house and can make it difficult to regulate interior temperature, the same thing is true for your bathroom windows. If your bathroom windows are outdated or damaged, they may not be able to insulate your home properly or regulate the environment inside the bathroom as well.

Fix Plumbing Issues and Upgrade Fixtures

Plumbing issues or outdated or broken fixtures can result in excess moisture in the bathroom and contribute to a humid bathroom. Plumbing issues or issues with fixtures can also contribute to leaks and water damage that can be costly to repair.

If you know you need to repair or replace leaky bathroom fixtures, make sure you prioritize doing so to avoid further damage to your home. Leaks are one of the things homeowners should not delay fixing. If you suspect plumbing issues in your humid bathroom, contact a contractor you trust to come take a look. They will be able to identify what is going on and provide the recommended next steps you need to take. Depending on the issue, they may be able to fix it while they are there.

Remodel the Bathroom

If you’ve gone through the checklist and your bathroom is still humid and uncomfortable, consider that it might be time to remodel your bathroom. High humidity and moisture are not necessarily always reasons to remodel, but they can be signs of larger issues that a remodel would fix.

If you are considering bathroom remodeling as a potential solution to your humidity problem, also think about what else you want to improve about your bathroom. If you need to do some work anyway and there are other things you want in your bathroom, it’s often a good opportunity and cost-effective to do a larger project at once.

8. A Humid Kitchen Could Be Caused By Insufficient Airflow or Ventilation Issues

Similar to issues with airflow and ventilation in the bathroom, insufficient airflow or ventilation issues in the kitchen can make it humid. In addition to poor insulation contributing to a more humid interior when it is humid outside, cooking, baking, and more can add moisture and steam to a kitchen.

This only creates an even more humid and uncomfortable environment without proper airflow or ventilation. Not only does this make your kitchen uncomfortable, but it also causes damage to your kitchen over time, and the fumes from cooking can negatively affect indoor air quality and health. This is why ventilation is important in the kitchen.

What to Do If Your Kitchen is Humid

Depending on the source of the issue, here are some things you can do if your kitchen is humid:

• Open a window and use the range hood.
• Check and clean your range hood.
• Repair or replace your range hood.
• Add a window if your kitchen does not have one.
• Replace or upgrade your existing kitchen window.
• Remodel the kitchen.

Check the Range Hood

Ventilation hoods are exhaust fans for the kitchen. They remove smoke, steam, fumes, and more from the kitchen and filter them outside. If you don’t use the range hood while cooking, or if it isn’t working properly, it can be difficult to regulate the temperature and air quality in the kitchen.

Although not always, a humid kitchen can be a sign that something is wrong with your range hood. Check over all components to make sure everything is in good condition and working properly. Also, check your range hood filter and clean it or replace it if needed. A clogged or dirty fan filter does you no favors. If your range hood is malfunctioning or broken, get it fixed or replace it if needed. These are key ways to improve kitchen ventilation.

Look at the Windows

In addition to the ventilation hood, windows are key components of good airflow and ventilation in a kitchen. If your kitchen does not currently have a window, consider a home improvement project to add one.

If you do have windows in your kitchen, look over them and make sure they are in good shape and still insulating your home properly. If they need to be replaced or aren’t what you want for your kitchen anymore, replace them or consider upgrading them to a different type of kitchen window.

Remodel the Kitchen

Similar to the bathroom and other areas of your home, humidity is always a reason to completely remodel a space. But it can be a sign of larger issues, and a remodel can make sense depending on the source of the problem and other things you want in that space.

If your kitchen is humid and you have been wanting to change the layout or upgrade materials, these can be signs that it’s time to remodel your kitchen. If this is the case, it may make sense for you and be more cost-effective to plan to remodel your kitchen to do the maintenance you need to fix the issue while also getting the kitchen you want.

9. Humidity Inside Can Mean Not Enough Insulation Around the Home

Humidity inside your home can be a sign that there is not enough insulation somewhere around your home. Siding, attics, basements, and more are common places to add insulation to your home. However, if these areas are all in good shape and properly insulated, and you are still running into high humidity in the home, there may be other areas that need more insulation, or something else may be causing the issue.

If you have questions or concerns about something going on in your home, it’s a good idea to reach out to an experienced contractor to figure out what might be going on. In the case of humidity issues in the home, you don’t want to leave it unchecked. Not only is humidity a sign of other things going on, but also leaving it unresolved can encourage mold growth in your home and lead to further issues.

Improve Your Home With Zephyr Thomas

These are a few reasons why your house might feel humid, and what you can do about them to make your home more comfortable. Hopefully, you never have to ask, “Why is my house so humid?” But if you do, or you come across anything in your home that you want to change, Zephyr Thomas can help. Contact us at 717-399-4708 to schedule your free estimate. At Zephyr Thomas, we keep our promise, and we can help you improve your home!