Anyone who has spent much time in Kansas City knows how uncomfortable the humidity can be. But many people may not realize that high levels of humidity can also wreak havoc on your home as well as your health.

When the humidity levels in your home are too high, it can allow mold, mildew, and fungus to grow and thrive, affecting both your health and your home. Excessive levels of humidity can aggravate allergies and asthma, as well as disrupt sleep and negatively impact the immune system. It can cause dehydration, fatigue, swelling, and muscle cramps. Your house can also suffer the effects of high humidity. It can cause your wood floors and woodwork to swell. It can also damage your furniture and carpeting. Sign of a humidity problem in your home include musty odors, cracking or flaking paint, condensation stains on the ceiling, condensation on windows, and areas that are consistently damp.

While the weather is definitely a key contributor to high humidity levels, even every day activities can add to the problem. Tasks such as cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and even taking a shower can significantly increase the humidity inside your home.

To create the ideal indoor climate, you should keep the humidity levels inside your home between 30 and 50 percent. While an air conditioner can help control humidity levels, it may not be able to decrease it enough and may have to run for extended periods of time. This not only puts extra strain on your air conditioner, but also increases your energy consumption and utility bills.

A whole house dehumidifier is the most effective and efficient way to keep your home’s humidity at optimal levels. A whole house dehumidifier pulls the air from every room of your home through the return ducts and passes it around cooled coils where it removes the moisture before recirculating it back through your home. This will make your home more comfortable while also reducing the strain on your air conditioner. Unlike portable or cabinet dehumidifiers, which can be effective for small areas, a whole house dehumidifier doesn’t need to be emptied on a regular basis. You just need to clean or replace the filter periodically.

Let the experts at Overland Park Heating and Cooling help you select the best dehumidifier for your home.