Health Dangers Caused by High Humidity in the Home

Even if you are one of the lucky few who doesn't suffer from a breathing condition, there are still benefits to cleaning the air inside your home and guarding against an overly-humid environment. Scientists have reported for years that cleaner air can increase the quality and quantity of one's life. Since the majority of us spend more time inside then outside, investing some time and money to improve your indoor air quality is a wise decision. Excessive levels of humidity in your home can cause the growth of mold, which can cause severe health problems for the members of your family, as well as expensive problems with your house.

The most serious health-threats caused by by high humidity are related to mold growth within the house. Mold will begin to grow as soon as an air-born mold spore hits a moist surface.  All known types of mold require moisture to grow, so reducing the moisture in your home can help control mold growth.

The air in basements is particularly susceptible to mold growth. Even if the air in your basement is not humid, the cold, moist surfaces (such as concrete or poured cement) retain a relative humidity of 100%. Mold growth can begin immediately when mold spores come in contact with these moist surfaces.

A whole house dehumidifier is a great way to control the humidity inside the home. There are also many air cleaners on the market which will further protect your breathing air from contamination from mold and other allergens. This is the first and best step toward controlling mold growth, and creating a healthy living environment for your family.