Staying Cool and Dry - Your Guide to Beating the Summer Humidity

We are familiar with humidity in the Bay of Plenty – but it’s not usually a summer problem. While our windows streak and mould grows easily in winter, summer tends to give our houses some relief from the excess of moisture.

But not this year.

With one storm after another and an endless battering of rain, houses in Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke are all trying to get on top of their humidity.  If this sounds familiar, read on – the team of heat pump and air conditioning specialists at Bay of Plenty Heat Pumps has created a guide to staying cool and dry for the rest of the season.

The problem with humidity

Humidity is excess moisture in the air, and at high levels it can be bad for both your health and your home. When left unchecked, humidity leads to mould growth, which can cause allergies, skin irritation, and respiratory problems. In your home, it can cause damage in the form of peeling paint, warped wood, and rusted metal. Plus, it creates an environment favoured by cockroaches!

Heat pumps are the best tool for fighting humidity

Heat pumps do more than just cool you off in the summer and warm you up in the winter – they also help dehumidify your home.

Heat pumps work by moving air from one area to another. Strange as it sounds, in winter, heat pumps find warm air outside – in the air or ground – and move it into your home. In summer, they do the opposite, moving warm indoor air outside.

But heat pumps don’t just heat and cool, they also circulate the air throughout your home, leaving you with fresher air. In the process, your heat pump condenses moisture found in the air and collects it in a drain pan, dehumidifying your home and drying out your house.

Other ways to beat the humidity

Alongside heat pumps, there are other things you can do to fight the humidity and keep your home cool and dry:

• Use extractor fans when cooking and showering.

• Look out for leaks that are adding more moisture into your house.

• Keep your windows and doors closed during the hottest part of the day to stop humid air from finding a way inside.

• Keeping light-coloured curtains or blinds closed will reflect the sunlight and make your home cooler.

• Add a second heat pump: if your heat pump helps in the lounge but doesn’t reach the bedrooms, another heat pump installed in the hallway can work wonders.

There’s not much we can do about the weather, but we can certainly make our homes cooler, dryer, and more comfortable. To get a heat pump installed at your Tauranga, Mt Maunganui, Papamoa, or Te Puke home, give the team at Bay of Plenty Heat Pumps a call today.

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