Tips for Keeping Humidity Low in the Office

Humidity is a nuisance when levels get too high. More than making your hair frizzy or your hands clammy, humidity has the potential to cause all sorts of problems in the office environment. Building managers and office managers need to pay attention to humidity levels in the warmer months of the year and find ways to reduce humidity in the office.

Reducing humidity keeps people comfortable and lessens the building’s exposure to moisture buildups and the problems that come with them. Not only will your employees breathe deep without feeling it in their sinuses, your building won’t face prospects like mold growth or sticking doors! Here are a few tips for how to lower humidity in the office.

Maintain the AC unit

Humidity has a direct correlation to air temperature, since air temperature dictates how saturated with moisture the air can become. As a general rule, the warmer the air, the more humid it can get; likewise, the cooler the air, the less humid it’s likely to be. The smart play in offices is to keep the AC unit in good working condition, to keep the humidity at an acceptable level.

Maintaining an AC unit also means your air will go through a compressor and condenser. Ever wonder why AC units always seem to be leaking water? It’s because the compressing and condensing action of the unit takes the moisture out of the air, turning it into condensation on the machine. More condensation means less moisture in the air.

Keep a lookout for plumbing leaks

You probably aren’t paying much attention to the plumbing in your office, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. Just like in your home, plumbing leaks need to be addressed swiftly, before they become major concerns.

More than causing water damage to the surrounding areas, plumbing leaks contribute moisture to the air. If you’ve ever opened a closet with high humidity, you know the dank, musty smell that follows. If you smell this anywhere in your office, check for leaks and make sure they’re found and repaired—before mold and mildew have a chance to develop.

Install a dehumidifier

It can be hard to control the humidity levels in your office—especially in areas where airflow is poor. Don’t be afraid to invest in a few portable dehumidification units and put them in strategic areas. These units will suck the moisture out of the air and deposit it as excess water for drainage. They function in much the same way as the compressor and condenser of the AC unit, but without the cooling that goes along with it.

If there’s a major problem with humidity in your building, consider the investment in a whole-building system to extract excess moisture.

Talk to an HVAC professional

Controlling humidity in your facilities is an evolving task that can change with the season and many other factors. The best way to stay on top of it is to work with an HVAC professional to make sure your approach targets the factors causing humidity—whether it’s the seasonal climate, poor airflow or something more sinister, like leaky plumbing.

Categorised in: Humidity

This post was written by Writer