12 DIY AND HOMEMADE DEHUMIDIFIER IDEAS TO DEHUMIDIFY YOUR HOUSE

12 DIY AND HOMEMADE DEHUMIDIFIER IDEAS TO DEHUMIDIFY YOUR HOUSE

Do you live in an area that experiences high humidity? Well, you know all too well that the extra moisture can cause a great deal of discomfort. In the summer, high humidity creates a muggy environment that makes your body less efficient at cooling itself. On the other hand, cold temperatures combined with humidity can create a frigid cold.

A highly humid room also providers the perfect conditions for harmful microbes and dust mites to thrive. It is therefore essential that you take appropriate measures to keep the humidity in your home within the normal range of 30 to 50 percent.

Dehumidifying the air in your home is not as difficult as you might think. Better still, you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on an elaborate air conditioning system. The right homemade solution could be all you need to bring the moisture down to an acceptable level.

How do you know your indoor air is too humid?

If you have been feeling unreasonably hot and sweaty recently, it is probably because the humidity in your home is too high. However, other telltale signs exist. Identifying them can enable you to take measures before your environment becomes too uncomfortable.

A clear sign of excessive humidity is condensation on the insides of windows or walls. This moisture build-up happens during the winter when outside temperatures plummet. Cold surfaces cause water within warm, humid indoor air to condense. When left unattended, the condensate may cause stains or water damage on various surfaces around your home.

If some of your windows and doors are drafty, you could have a humidity problem. A house that lets in a lot of outside air tends to have elevated moisture levels.

Mold spots in the corners or on the ceiling of a room are another indication of too much moisture in the air. Mold sports emit musty odors when growing. If you cannot spot any mold, therefore, kick your sense of smell up a notch.

Some homes have recurring issues with groundwater. Water level marks on your basement walls, especially after a downpour, could foretell a future rise in humidity levels.

Even if none of the signs mentioned here are showing, you can know the level of humidity in a room definitively with a humidistat. Humidistats are commonly found in dedicated dehumidification and air conditioning units, but you can purchase one as a stand-alone measuring device.

Benefits of having a dehumidifier in your house

You have made the first step towards solving your humidity problem – recognizing that you have a problem. Now, it is time to weigh your dehumidification options. A household dehumidifier can be remarkably effective at achieving the moisture level you desire.

Dehumidifiers generally get rid of excess moisture by drawing in wet air, drying it, and then releasing it back to your environment. By lowering humidity, they eliminate variables that can adversely affect your home. These include dust mites, molds, and mildew. They also help to reduce odors that come from mold and mildew, rotting wood and ceiling boards, and damaged concrete.

Less humidity in your home means your clothing will dry quicker. Food will also stay fresh longer. Moreover, you will find fewer signs of corrosion on items like electronics and tools.

A dehumidifier can decrease energy costs when deployed to supplement an air conditioning unit. When the air is too moist, the air conditioner works more to heat or cool it to the pre-set temperature. It, therefore, tires out quickly and you must repair or replace it more frequently.

Having a dehumidifier can improve your health. If you are suffering from allergies or other symptoms, the answer to the question of whether you need a dehumidifier is an undisputed yes. To top it all off, dehumidifiers function quietly and efficiently. A good quality unit will work without you even noticing.

12 ways to make a DIY homemade dehumidifier

If you want guaranteed all-year humidity control for your entire home, you may need to buy a dehumidifier. However, you can still maintain low humidity without spending a fortune. The 12 ideas below are super easy to execute. Although one of them might not be enough on its own, you can combine a few to create your pleasant, moisture-free space.

Adding humidity absorbing plants

Did you know that some plants can absorb water from the air instead of receiving it through their roots? Such indoor plants can be effective dehumidifiers, especially when used with other solutions. Peach Lily, Reed Palm, English Ivy, and Tillandsia are excellent examples of humidity-absorbing plants. They can also be suitable replacements for the indoor plants you already have.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation can play a significant role in humidity control. Vents facilitate the movement of air in and out of a home. This process improves indoor air quality. When done correctly, it can also lower humidity.

Heating

Humidity is often associated with the warm summer months. However, the cold winter can cause humidity levels to skyrocket. A good space heater can help you beat the cold as well as the humidity. By warming your house with dry heat, you can effectively minimize the moisture and dampness in the air.

Taking shorter, cooler showers

Long hot showers are an effective way to relax after a long day, but they can expose your home to high moisture levels. You can turn this around by routinely taking colder and shorter showers. Installing efficient bathroom appliances like low-flow showerheads can also help to minimize humidity. The savings you will get on your heating bills will be an added advantage.

Fixing water and air leaks

If, when investigating the cause of high humidity, you uncover a localized water spot on the floor or ceiling, your culprit is a leak. Your first step must then be to turn off the water. Assess the leak and determine if you need an expert to fix it. If the water has caused significant damage or mold, you might need to have the area remediated.

Besides water leaks, air leaks can also drive up the humidity in your home. If your windows and doors are letting in air, use weatherstripping to seal the inlets.

Opening windows and doors

Perhaps the simplest and most affordable way to achieve temporary relief from high humidity is to open a few windows and doors. The air circulation you enable will do a lot in reducing the stuffy feeling of a humid home.

Air-drying clothes and dishes

Unless it is raining outside, you have no good reason to hang wet clothing indoors to dry. The water evaporating from your clothes has nowhere to go but into your living space. If you have a humidity problem, you might solve it by hanging these items outside.

If you use a dishwasher, turn off the heat-dry option and allow your dishes to air dry. Air-drying reduces the heat and water vapor coming from the dishwasher.

Use a fan

When it is warm and humid, a ceiling fan can be a straightforward solution for reducing room moisture. When the fan rotates counterclockwise, it circulates cool air downwards. The moisture in the warm air below condenses leaving your air dryer.

Honeywell Ceiling Fans

If you have an exhaust fan, turning it on when cooking, cleaning or bathing can prevent the moisture from these activities from affecting your home. Exhaust fans pull hot, warm air from your house and release it outdoors. They also help to remove odors from cooking and cleaning,

Avoid boiling water on humid days

If it’s humid outside, some of the moist air will get into your home regardless of what you try. Do not increase the moisture in your indoor air further by boiling water unnecessarily. Boiling water fewer times will reduce the steam in your indoor air while reducing your energy bill.

Insulate problem areas

Windows, cracks on walls, and pipes can be entryways for moisture. Insulating these areas can help you to decrease humidity significantly. Effective insulating materials are plastic wrapping for windows and caulk for cracks in your wall.

For more drastic measures, you can waterproof your walls entirely. Some waterproofing materials include Xypex and Drylok.

Redirect downspouts

Downspouts that drain water close to the foundation of a house can cause a persistent humidity problem. Therefore, redirect downspouts so that the water drains at least five feet away. It is also a good idea to have at least a one-foot-wide gap between your garden and the border of your home.

Make a DIY dehumidifier

Are you the kind of person that prefers to save money by getting your hands dirty? Well, you can make an effective dehumidifier from common substances in no time. Rock salt, for instance, can absorb a significant amount of moisture from your home. Just put some in a bucket and place it strategically in a problematic area like your basement or attic.

Below are other popular DIY dehumidifiers you can try today.

DIY Calcium Chloride Dehumidifier

DIY Charcoal Dehumidifier

DIY Thermoelectric Dehumidifier

Wrap Up

A healthy life is all about balance. Too much humidity is bad but too little is not good either. By creating a balance, you can significantly improve your home environment and your health.

As you have learned, dehumidifying a room does not have to be a complicated and expensive endeavor. When deployed appropriately, the ideas above can work so well that you would not need an off-the-store dehumidifier. Try them today. We would love to hear the results.