Battle the Humidity Before It Battles Back

Main Fix: Stop Humidity Before It Turns Into Mold

Humidity is part of life in the Lowcountry. You feel it in the air, and if you are not careful, it shows up in places it should not. Your attic. Your closets. Behind your HVAC vents. Inside cabinets. We have seen it quietly turn beautiful homes into expensive repair jobs.

Wood starts to swell. Ductwork begins to rust. Ceilings stain from above. And more often than not, there is no water leak. It is just trapped moisture doing what it does best. Sitting there and slowly making things worse.

Even with your AC running, humidity still finds a way in. Here is why:

• Your home is not sealed tight. Moist air seeps in through vents, attic gaps, pipe penetrations, and around old windows.

• Your AC only removes moisture while it is running. On cooler or cloudy days, it might shut off before it has a chance to pull the humidity out.

• In sealed areas like attics or closets, the air has nowhere to go. If moisture gets in, it stays put.

• Leaky ductwork can pull humid air from unconditioned areas and push it back through your system.

If you smell mustiness, see moisture around your vents, or notice your wood floors starting to cup, you are already behind. You need to start drying the air.

Here is how to stay ahead of it:

• Use a plug-in dehumidifier in tight spaces like closets, pantries, or sealed storage areas

• If your attic is sealed or insulated, consider a dehumidifier there too

• Keep the humidity in your home around 50 percent

• Empty the tank or check the drainage hose regularly

• Use a hygrometer (pictured above) to monitor levels during summer

This is not just for older homes. Some of the worst mold problems we see are in high-end properties with spray foam insulation. The house is sealed so well that the moisture has no way to escape. If it gets in, it stays.

If you want to avoid swollen cabinets, rusted vents, and a damp smell that never goes away, manage the humidity before it manages you.

5-Minute Task

Wipe down your HVAC vents and take a look for any signs of condensation. If the metal is sweating, that is a sign your humidity is already too high.

Tool Spotlight

Eva-Dry Renewable Mini Dehumidifier

This compact little unit is perfect for small spaces like closets, pantries, and cabinets where moisture sneaks in. No batteries, no cords. It works silently and can be renewed by plugging it in to dry out the beads. Great for RVs and boats too.

Grab it here

Lowcountry Watchlist

Humidity is climbing. With heavy rains and hot nights, we are entering the mold zone. Crawlspaces and attics stay humid longer than you think, especially in shaded or poorly vented homes. Check yours before the smell tells you first.

Thanks for reading.

Fighting humidity is not glamorous, but it saves you thousands. If you are not sure what kind of dehumidifier you need, or how to tell if it is doing its job, reply to this email. I am happy to talk through it with you.

And if you know someone who has been complaining about that damp smell under the sink, send this their way. One fix now beats a big cleanup later.

— Mike

The Proactive Home | Guardian Home Maintenance
[email protected]