Although some people enjoy the cleansing experience of a sauna, most people don’t want to be subjected to that kind of environment all the time in their own home—which is exactly what having excess humidity can feel like. Excess humidity in your home can cause an already stifling summer to become downright unbearable. On top of the discomfort, excess humidity can also cause damage to your home including wood rot and metal corrosion.

There are several ways to eliminate (or at least decrease) excess humidity in your home, however.

Although appliances such as window air conditioners and de-humidifiers can help the problem, not everyone can afford those handy gadgets. For renters especially, this can be a difficult solution as the landlord would have to either approve or purchase the equipment. Fortunately, there are other options.

Identify the Source(s) of Humidity

The first step is to identify the most likely sources of the excess humidity. Newer homes are generally more humid during the first few years of use. For the most part, simply opening windows more often will alleviate the humidity in this situation.

For everyone else, though, the first step in getting rid of excess humidity is to identify what may be causing the excess humidity in the first place and make adjustments as necessary. Clothes dryers, basements, a high shower volume and storing firewood indoors are all likely culprits.

Ventilation Systems

One simple solution is to use ventilating systems, usually located in the kitchen or bathrooms, more frequently, especially on those warmer days.

Thermally Insulated Windows and Doors

To help get rid of the excess humidity caused by those situations, installing thermally insulated windows and doors, or upgrading your shower door to triple insulation can help immensely. Another good idea is to install vapor retarders into your ceiling.

Check Your Vents

It’s also a good idea to check the vents on any heat-supplying equipment including fireplaces, wood burning stoves or furnaces. Make sure all the vents are situated in such as way as to have constant and full exposure to outside air.

With some simple home inspection or maintenance, you won’t have to worry about stepping into a sauna every time you come home.