How to get rid of humidity in house

High indoor humidity is one of those problems homeowners often underestimate until it starts causing visible damage or health concerns. In practice, we usually see people search for how to get rid of humidity in house after noticing condensation on windows, a persistent musty smell, or early signs of mold. By that point, humidity is no longer a comfort issue – it is a building performance issue.

This guide is written from hands-on experience working with moisture-related problems in residential buildings, especially older or poorly insulated homes. Rather than offering quick fixes or exaggerated claims, we will walk through what reducing humidity actually involves, why certain methods work, where they fail, and how to decide what is worth investing in for your specific situation.

Understanding what high humidity in a house really means

Humidity becomes a problem when indoor air consistently holds more moisture than the building can safely manage. Anything above 60% relative humidity for a while can lead to condensation, mould, and things breaking down. In real life, it is rarely just one thing causing the problem.

Things like cooking, showering, and drying clothes inside, along with poor ventilation, are often to blame. In older homes, we frequently see the problem made worse by cold outside walls, thermal bridges, or old insulation that lets moisture build up inside instead of escaping.

It is important to understand how moisture, air move

Removing damp air from kitchens, bathrooms, and utility spaces does help lower indoor humidity. But, in practice, just ventilating is not always enough.

We have noticed plenty of homes with extractor fans that, on paper, are up to code, yet they are either underused, badly placed, or just cannot handle the moisture the household generates. Ventilation is most effective when it is constant, properly balanced, and suited to the building's design and how many people live there.

Dehumidifiers are a popular solution for tackling indoor humidity, and they can be helpful. Based on what we have seen, they are best used as a temporary fix, particularly during those times when humidity levels really climb, or when you're trying to fix the root of the problem.

The downside is that dehumidifiers only deal with the air itself, not the structure of your home. If moisture is constantly seeping in through walls, floors, or other cold surfaces, the machine will just have to work overtime, without actually fixing the source. This means higher energy bills and frustration when the humidity comes back after you turn it off.

The importance of insulation in managing humidity – Why bad insulation makes humidity problems worse

In many of the cases we have dealt with, high humidity is closely linked to poor or unsuitable insulation. Cold surfaces inside the house can lead to condensation, even when the overall humidity does not seem that high.

This issue frequently arises in solid-wall structures or buildings that have been retrofitted without a proper understanding of how moisture behaves.

Conventional insulation methods can inadvertently trap moisture if vapour diffusion and capillary action are not carefully controlled. The result? The wall becomes a moisture store, rather than a system that helps manage it.

How SkamoWall tackles moisture issues

At the heart of the SkamoWall system is the calcium silicate SkamoWall Board. Once in place, it absorbs excess moisture from the air inside, thereby improving the indoor environment by reducing surface humidity. This is not a mechanical action, it is a fundamental characteristic of the material itself.

At reduced humidity levels, SkamoWall Board inherently releases moisture into the interior environment. This buffering capacity facilitates equilibrium, preventing moisture accumulation on cooler surfaces.

This characteristic is detailed in SBi guideline 240, published by the BUILD – Institute for Construction, Urban Development and Environment. Unlike stud walls, calcium silicate boards possess the ability to absorb moisture from the indoor atmosphere and subsequently allow it to diffuse through.

From a professional viewpoint, not all residences require sophisticated insulation systems to manage humidity. When humidity issues stem mainly from lifestyle choices – like excessive occupancy, inadequate ventilation practices, or transient construction moisture – less complex interventions might prove adequate.

• Structural remedies warrant consideration under the following circumstances:
• Humidity issues are persistent throughout the year
• Mold or condensation reappears despite ventilation and dehumidification efforts
• Walls exhibit a cold and damp sensation even during dry periods
• Prior insulation attempts have proven ineffective or exacerbated the problem

Mounting specialised systems without first identifying the source of the moisture can be a costly mistake, often leading to unsatisfactory outcomes. A thorough evaluation is always the first step before undertaking any significant work.

Assessing the effectiveness of your humidity control

A frequent error we encounter is focussing too much on immediate, short-lived gains. Humidity control should be assessed over a longer period, spanning weeks and seasons, rather than just a few days.

Successful outcomes are typically marked by stable indoor humidity levels within the 40-60% range, consistently dry wall surfaces, less condensation on windows, and the absence of musty smells. When moisture is effectively managed, improvements in comfort and indoor air quality usually follow.

If you are stuck relying on constant mechanical fixes – like running dehumidifiers around the clock – it is a clear indication that the root problem has not been addressed.

Realistic expectations and limitations

Let us be frank: There is no magic bullet for eliminating humidity from your home. How moisture behaves is influenced by the climate, the building's design and materials, and how people live in the space. Successful solutions typically blend better ventilation, changes in how you use the space, cutting corners or seeking immediate solutions frequently results in persistent issues and increased expenses over time.

Conclusion: Humidity control requires equilibrium, not expediency

Effectively managing indoor humidity hinges less on combating moisture directly and more on its intelligent regulation. Based on professional observations, the most enduring outcomes stem from solutions that acknowledge the inherent interactions between buildings, air, heat, and moisture.