June, July and August
Summer checklist for inside the house
Summer moves the moisture problem indoors in a different way. Air conditioning pulls water out of the air and sends it down a drain line, basements turn damp, and refrigerators work their hardest. The checks below take one evening.
The summer list
- Keep indoor humidity between about 30 and 50 percent, and run a dehumidifier in a damp basement.
- Find the AC condensate drain line and pan and make sure water is flowing and the pan is dry.
- Check the furnace or air handler filter monthly while the cooling runs every day.
- Slide the refrigerator out, look at the water line for kinks and vacuum the coils.
- Press the test and reset buttons on GFCI outlets in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry.
- Empty and rinse the dehumidifier bucket, or check that its drain hose reaches the floor drain.
What to look for
| Where | Warning sign | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor humidity | Over 50 percent, musty smell | Dehumidifier, run bath fans longer |
| Condensate pan | Standing water | Clear the drain line or call an HVAC tech |
| GFCI outlet | Does not click off when tested | Have an electrician replace it |
Reading a humidity number
A small digital hygrometer costs a few dollars and gives you a real number instead of a guess. Put one in the basement and one upstairs. Readings that stay above about 60 percent for days at a time give mold and dust mites the conditions they like, and they make wood floors and trim swell.
Get a text when the next season's list is up
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