Living with humidity

The sun is out and the sky is blue, but until when? By the time this goes to print, it will surely be raining again!

We are in the midst of the rainy season, and with the rain comes humidity. Where there is humidity, mold is likely to follow.

Once indoor relative humidity climbs above 60 percent, conditions become increasingly favorable for mold. At 70 percent, books and papers, leather goods, vinyl items, fabric and upholstery can become breeding grounds, especially inside closets and cabinets where sunlight and air circulation hardly reach.

In our tropical setting, 50 to 60 percent relative humidity is the range to aim for. There is no need to chase excessively dry air. What matters is knowing when humidity crosses that threshold so you can act before mold develops and spreads.

Measuring relative humidity gives you a clear starting point and helps determine what action to take next. Just as important is managing humidity alongside indoor temperature, since the two are closely linked.

In tropical climates, the dew point is the temperature at which moisture in the air begins to condense. When walls, windows, furniture or other surfaces fall below this temperature, condensation can form, creating damp conditions that invite mold. To protect your home from molds, take these steps.

1 Measure the humidity

Purchase inexpensive digital or analogue hygrometers and monitor indoor humidity. A reading of 72 percent calls for intervention, while 55 to 58 percent is a comfortable range.

Place hygrometers in bedrooms and living spaces, as well as inside closets, cabinets and enclosed rooms. Don’t assume all is well just because they don’t smell musty, as you could simply be at the beginning of a humid cycle.

Think of the hygrometer as an inexpensive early warning system. It is much better to discover 72 percent humidity on a small digital screen than through your favorite pair of leather shoes.

3 Use a dehumidifier where moisture remains high

2 Pay special attention to closets and enclosed storage

Small, enclosed spaces need a different kind of attention.

If humidity is too high, silica gel or calcium chloride moisture absorbers can help, but those little tubs and packets won’t handle a large closet.

Another option is a wardrobe warmer, a low-wattage heating rod that gently raises the temperature inside the closet. It keeps interior surfaces and stored items above the dew point, making condensation and mold less likely.

But moisture still needs somewhere to go. A wardrobe warmer works best when the cabinet is not completely airtight. Warm air rises, creating gentle convection that helps move damp air out.

Don’t pack things too tightly together or against exterior walls, especially masonry or hollow-block walls. Your things need some air space too. A little breathing room helps.

A wardrobe warmer rod works by creating heat and allowing this heat to move upward to displace humid air.

3 Use a dehumidifier where moisture remains high

A dehumidifier is still one of the most effective solutions for areas where humidity remains persistently high. An integrated dehumidifying system is another option.

For bedrooms, closets and rooms with a lot of leather, fabric, books or other moisture-sensitive materials, a dehumidifier is far more effective than containers of moisture absorber. Let it cycle automatically according to the desired relative humidity, or use a portable unit that can be moved from room to room as needed.

Airconditioning also removes moisture as it cools. But if you have to make a room uncomfortably cold just to bring the humidity down, a dedicated dehumidifier may be the more practical solution.

A dehumidifier is still your best weapon against moisture. A portable unit can be moved around several rooms. Keep doors closed during and after dehumidifying, to keep moist air away.

4 Don’t open the windows because it’s ‘good ventilation’

This is an important tropical distinction: if outdoor humidity is 90 percent, opening the windows can bring more moisture into the house rather than remove it. Sometimes, airing out the house simply means inviting the weather in.

Ventilate when the outside air is relatively dry. During prolonged rain, keep vulnerable rooms closed and dehumidify them mechanically.

5 Move furniture slightly away from walls

This is particularly important along exterior concrete walls. Even a 5- to 10-cm gap can improve air circulation behind cabinets, sofas and headboards.

A large cabinet pressed against a cool concrete wall is a classic spot for mold to develop in a tropical home. Give the wall and your furniture some space to breathe.

They may not be enough, but they can certainly help! Ceiling fans are the best because they draw down warm, less humid air.

6 Treat different possessions differently

For leather goods like bags and shoes, don’t keep them in sealed plastic. Instead, store them in breathable dust bags with silica gel and periodically air them in a dehumidified room.

For books, documents and artwork, keep them away from exterior walls and floors. Silica gel inside enclosed cabinets can help, but controlling the room’s humidity is better.

For clothing, towels and linens, make sure everything is completely dry before storage. During weeks of continuous rain, using a dryer or dehumidifier-assisted indoor drying is safer than putting away laundry that merely feels dry. “Almost dry” is not dry.

For wood furniture, don’t try to drive humidity extremely low. Keeping it fairly stable at around 50 to 60 percent is better than repeatedly alternating between very damp and very dry conditions.

A wardrobe warmer can be easily purchased online and installed at the base of a closet. It can also be used for bookshelves or other storage units that need dehumidifying.

7 Fans are not enough

Fans are useful for preventing stagnant pockets of air and helping damp surfaces dry more quickly. But they do not remove moisture from the house. They can help circulate air and disperse humid pockets, but only if drier air replaces them.

If a room is at 75 percent RH, circulating that same humid air does not solve the underlying problem. You are simply moving it around with greater enthusiasm. A fan combined with a dehumidifier or properly functioning airconditioning is much more effective.

8 Arrest mold and find the source

Don’t simply wipe visible mold away and assume the problem is solved. Mold is annoyingly persistent.

The underlying moisture source must be identified and corrected, whether it is excessive humidity, condensation, a plumbing or roof leak, seepage through an exterior wall or simply poor airflow.

For a tropical home, measure the humidity and control it with a dehumidifier or airconditioning. Manage rooms, closets and other storage areas, and check for leaks or water seepage.

You can’t control the weather, but you can certainly control how much of the rainy season finds its way into your home.

The author is a Principal Architect of Asuncion-Berenguer Inc., a full-service architectural and interior design firm recognized for designing experiences and spaces that elevate everyday living through thoughtfully crafted environments. Contact her through isabel@abi.ph or @isabelbasuncion