Humidity in the home during heat waves, how to deal with it?

In recent weeks, Europe experienced the unusual phenomenon of a heat wave in February. Beyond the strangeness of the phenomenon -prompted by climate change-, the temperatures were not problematic since it was winter. But in summer it can be a greater problem, especially if it fosters humidity in the home during heat waves. The problem could be serious in our homes if we do not address it in time.

Humidity can be more dangerous than the rise in temperatures during a heat wave. Because, in humid climates, the feeling of oppression is much greater than in dry environments. This is because humans cool our bodies through sweat, which evaporates upon contact with the air. This phenomenon, however, does not work the same way in humid places. In that case, the evaporation of sweat slows down and eventually becomes impossible.

Excessive sweating causes the system to collapse, and then our body temperature rises beyond what is indicated. What problems can this bring us? In the first phase, fatigue and dizziness. But then the excess of heat with humidity causes diseases to appear and, in severe cases, death.

Outside, the risk is great because during the day the sun's rays significantly affect the sensation of heat and can cause us to suffer from a heat stroke. But what about humidity in the home during heat waves? In many of the buildings in Spain, the situation can be equally dangerous.

The majority of buildings in our country were created without intention to protect against cold or heat. And even less was it expected that heat waves would become a common phenomenon. A few decades ago, it was said that if the heat at home was unbearable, the remedy was to go for a walk. But that, in emergency situations due to high temperatures, is not ideal.

Moreover, that is not the solution. Humidity in the home is a serious problem to be solved as it can severely affect our health:

• It is easy to catch respiratory diseases such as sinusitis or asthma, in addition to infections like bronchitis.
• The humidity in the air can cause feelings of discomfort or chills, as well as fatigue or difficulty breathing, headaches, or others.
• Bad odors at home are often due to the accumulation of humidity.
• The mold that appears with humidity in the home can trigger multiple allergies. It frequently appears in bathrooms, windows, or other humid rooms.

The heat, moreover, worsens the harmful effects of humidity. For example, numerous skin diseases such as rosacea, fungi, seborrheic dermatitis, or solar spots appear. The combination of heat and humidity is also not good for preventing skin cancer.

How to combat humidity in the home during heat waves?

The problem of humidity in summer is complicated both outdoors and indoors. Fortunately, in many cases, windows are usually opened, which airs out the spaces. To resolve humidity, air renewal is essential, both in summer and winter.

Prevention is the first thing we must consider to eliminate humidity in the home:

• A poor thermal insulation leads to the filtering of water vapor. Moreover, if there is no airtightness, heat seeps into the rooms and causes discomfort inside the house.
• Construction defects are another major problem. Usually, cracks or leaks in pipes can foster the appearance of humidity.
• Improper use of air conditioning can be responsible for humidity. And not only in winter due to the air conditioning but also because of malfunctioning air conditioning units. It is worth remembering that air conditioning units do not eliminate humidity.
• Poor ventilation. The biggest problem of a home affected by humidity is air renewal, and ventilation, whether mechanical or natural, influences this.

In summer, the ideal is to open the windows if there is no ventilation system. Additionally, humidity does not easily disappear and merely covering the walls where it arises or painting them is not enough. On the contrary, that will only aggravate the problem because it does not cut it off at the root. It is necessary to detect the places where the problem originates and solve them.

The best solution for problems of humidity in the home during heat waves is the double flow ventilation system. Thanks to it, it is possible to climatize the rooms and eliminate humidity, as well as renew the air in the home.