Humidity levels play a big role in the comfort of your home. If humidity levels drop too low, you may develop dry, itchy skin and see an increase in static electricity. If they are too high, it will make your AC work harder, and you may even have trouble sleeping. Ideally, indoor humidity levels should remain between 30% and 50%. Unfortunately, the humid subtropical climate in Browns Summit, NC, makes high indoor humidity a common problem. A whole house dehumidifier can keep your home in the ideal range. Here are seven ways you can tell you need a dehumidifier.

1. Window and Mirror Condensation

One of the telltale signs of high indoor humidity is frequent condensation on windows and mirrors. Condensation occurs when warm, moist air comes into contact with a colder surface. Since glass does not easily conduct heat, it remains colder than the surrounding air. This is the same phenomenon you can see after a shower or when you boil water in an open container. You have high indoor humidity if it is occurring spontaneously in your home.

2. Noisy Doors, Cabinets, and Floors

Excess moisture also causes the wood to swell and warp. This can make the doors and cabinets of your home creak when you open and close them. It can also make floorboards squeaky when you step on them. High humidity is likely to be the culprit if your home develops those problems over time.

3. Mold and Mold Growth

Damp and dark places are the ideal environment for the growth of mold and mildew. You can encounter it in laundry areas, basements, and bathrooms. If your home has a mold or mildew problem elsewhere, it may indicate high indoor humidity. The first places to check are the ceilings, corners and walls of your home. Mold and mildew can start as an unusual color or look like small spots on those surfaces. It can also cause a musty smell in your home.

4. Respiratory Issues

Excess humidity in the air of your home also causes breathing difficulties and other respiratory problems. Humid air triggers a reaction in your lungs that leads to constricted airways. This forces your lungs to work harder to capture the oxygen your body needs. In addition, high humidity can lead to an increase in the population of dust mites in your home. They are a common allergen and can provoke sneezing, wheezing, or coughing.

5. HVAC Comfort Issues

High indoor humidity in the summer interferes with your body’s natural cooling process. When you’re hot, your body responds by sweating, relying on evaporation to carry away the heat. Air with too much moisture in it will hinder that evaporation. This will make you feel warmer, even at indoor temperatures that should be comfortable. In winter, high humidity can interfere with air circulation in your home. It can prevent the heat from your HVAC from reaching you, making you feel colder than the temperature suggests.

6. Pest Infestations

High humidity in your home can attract pests such as cockroaches, silverfish, and centipedes. Spiders also thrive in moist conditions. Excess moisture can also attract rats and mice. In extreme cases, wood rot caused by high humidity can even create openings for pests to enter your home. If you have abundant pests in your home, you may have a moisture problem.

7. Difficulty drying clothes

If you notice that your clothes take forever to dry after washing, high indoor humidity may be the reason. It can happen if you use a drying rack or clothes dryer. On a drying rack, you are counting on the direct evaporation of moisture from your clothes into the surrounding air. A clothes dryer draws in cooler air from your home and uses heat to speed up evaporation. If there is already too much moisture in the air, there is nowhere for the moisture in your clothes to go.

Consider a Whole House Dehumidifier

If any of the above signs of high indoor humidity apply to your home, consider a whole house dehumidifier. Custom Air Inc. sells and installs high quality dehumidifiers in Browns Summit. That’s just one of our comprehensive indoor air quality services. We also offer HVAC installation, maintenance and repair. This includes geothermal and ductless mini-split systems. We can even offer financing options on approved credit for HVAC installations. So, if you are interested in a whole house dehumidifier in Browns Summit, contact Custom Air Inc. today!