Humidity in summer, how does it affect our homes?

Good weather arrives and with it the problems of humidity in the house... or does it? It is often thought that conflicts caused by excess water vapor in the air are only serious in winter, when there is rain, cold, and a greater propensity for general discomfort. It is also believed that, with the cold, old houses without good ventilation and with closed windows suffer more from this plague. But the truth is that humidity in summer is just as damaging as in winter, despite what many people may think.

This erroneous idea that humidity affects less in summer has its origin in the fact that in winter we are in greater contact with its effects. For example, in winter it is more common to worry about respiratory complications related to vapor in the air when it is easy to catch a cold. But also because in the cold months clothes do not dry easily indoors and we mistakenly think that this causes humidity.

The fact that the days are gray and sometimes rainy does not mean that we are more affected by humidity. Because this problem, which is noticeable in the deterioration of homes and also in people's health, has to do with other causes that do not differentiate between cold and heat. While it is true that winter fosters its effects due to low temperatures, what is really remarkable for the appearance of humidity is the way in which the buildings are constructed and the climate where they are located.

Although humidity may be more visible in winter, the arrival of summer can be fatal for a home affected by this prejudice. Since when high temperatures meet a high percentage of humidity, a more damaging phenomenon can occur, that of condensation humidity.

In a home affected by humidity in summer, we may notice how in the bathroom, after a shower, we are overwhelmed by a strong sensation of heat. And that the windows become very fogged. If during the hottest months we see that steam settles permanently on mirrors and windows or that black stains and bad smell are generated, we must consider that there is likely a humidity problem.

Despite what is said about winter, humidity in summer is just as bad as in cold seasons. Even more so if the collision of high temperatures with vapor in the air becomes condensation humidity. That is why it is very necessary to know if there is an excess of vapor in the environment and to take measures against it.

Combat humidity in summer

The humidity in summer can be noticed quickly, due to the unpleasant odors that appear easily in the hottest months. If, moreover, we see stains on the walls and mold, we can already suspect that the problem has gotten worse, so we will need to solve it at its root. If you have doubts, you can always use a humidity meter, which are very economical and are the best way to certify that we have an excess of water vapor in the air.

From here, in summer we can start by ventilating better. If we do not have a ventilation system and live in an old house, we should at least start by opening the windows. However, humidity usually originates where there is more water, which is usually in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

Many bathrooms do not have a window, so the simplest way to eliminate humidity is to install a bathroom extractor, which is activated by the light switch. On the other hand, it should be remembered that some of the traditional solutions against humidity are erroneous, such as:

1. Painting the area affected by humidity is a mistake, even with anti-humidity paints. It only temporarily covers the problem, but does not solve the cause.
2. Coatings with anti-humidity mortar are also usually ineffective.
3. Inside insulation boards are often another solution against humidity that are commonly offered. The problem they can present is that, in too many cases, they can hide the humidity but not eradicate it.
4. Anti-mold primers also do not yield good results.

Humidity is in the air, so it is necessary to renew that air. That is why the rest of the actions will achieve nothing if we do not air out the affected room. What good does it do us to paint a wall, even with anti-humidity paints, if water vapor remains in the air?

If we continue to have problems with humidity in summer, the definitive solution is to install a mechanical ventilation system. This way, we can renew the air we breathe. For example, with dual flow ventilation installations, we won't even see fogged glasses again.