We've all experienced the obvious signs of too much humidity in your home: fogging of Windows after a hot shower, damp walls and cupboards while cooking, and the feeling of damp, humid air in our homes.

It's never any fun.

Fortunately, there are many ways to ease the humidity in your home. Let's look at what condensation is, what causes it, and some foolproof solutions for controlling condensation in your room.

What is condensation?

Condensation, the US Geological Survey tells us, is "the process by which water vapor in the air is transformed into liquid water." But you probably know this better by the feeling of humidity in the air and the droplets that appear on Windows and walls.

If you've ever worn glasses while walking from a cool air-conditioned room to the hot summer air outside, you've probably experienced condensation forming in front of your eyes. When warm, moist air hits the cold glass, water droplets begin to form on the surface. This is condensation in action. While it's handy for quick science experiments, it can be a hassle to keep at home.

What causes condensation?

Seasonal effect

Our house absorbs moisture in summer. Then, we usually close the Windows during the colder months to shut them off from the outside air. When the heat is on, our homes sweat, causing excessive moisture to be generated inside. After the first few weeks of using heat, your home should become dry, thus reducing, if not eliminating, any condensation.

Daily activities

Many of the things we do create humidity and condensation in our homes:

Cook rice or boil water

Take a hot bath

Do the dishes, mop the floor, and wash the clothes

Use a humidifier

Use a non-smoking gas heater

Houseplants

Breathing/sweating normally

I just bought a new window. Why do I see condensation now?

Inefficient Windows can allow the air inside to escape through cracks, holes, or loose structures before you replace an old window with a new model.

Now with energy-efficient Windows, the moist air that was previously discharged is retained inside. Your new Windows are forming a seal against external factors that simply didn't exist before. Now that your home is more airtight, you need to find new ways to remove moisture.

How to control the humidity in the house?

1) Functional ventilation

Ensure that all ventilation sources are working properly. This includes ovens, microwaves, exhaust fans in bathrooms and laundry rooms. Of course, it's important that they not only work, but it's also important to use them at the right time. Be sure to turn on the exhaust fan in your home when performing any activity that creates moisture in the air (showering, cooking, laundry, etc.).

2) Ventilation!

Open the Windows regularly for a few minutes during the day to expel moisture and bring in fresh, dry air without affecting heating and cooling.

3) Observe the humidifier

If you have a humidifier, check the Settings to make sure you are using the correct configuration to balance the humidity in your room. When doing this, it is important to observe the outside temperature. We recommend a humidity level between 30% and 50%, depending on the outside temperature.

4) Open all blinds and vents

Most basements and attics have some form of shutter system to help ventilate the space. Make sure they are all open and in good working order. Birds and other small animals can nest inside shuttered vents throughout the year, so it pays to check for them at the beginning of each season.

Bonus: You can occasionally open the fireplace damper to provide more opportunity for moisture to escape.

5) Integrate your plant

If you have a lot of houseplants, try concentrating them in one area of your house. Also, try not to water too much. Any excess moisture will increase the humidity in the room.

6) Attach condensation variables

While the biggest culprits for being too wet indoors are listed above, other factors may also come into play. If you've tried everything imaginable to relieve excess moisture in your house and still find condensation, it may be time to break the mold.

The number of Windows in your home, the type of heating system, and the insulation and steam barriers between the walls all affect condensation levels. If you find that none of our recommended remedies are effective, it may be time to contact a licensed baydee professional to discuss alternative solutions.