Central Virginia’s winter weather is unpredictable. From freezing nights to milder days, the fluctuating temperatures, combined with indoor heating systems, can create uncomfortable humidity issues in Virginia homes and businesses. When warm air inside meets cold surfaces (like windows, walls, and poorly insulated crawlspaces), it causes condensation—a sign that moisture is out of balance.
High indoor humidity in winter can often be traced back to issues like:
- Poor insulation and air sealing: Gaps and drafts allow humid air to enter your home.
- Unsealed crawlspaces: Cold, damp air from your basement or crawlspace rises into your living spaces.
- Inefficient ventilation: Trapped humid air has nowhere to escape, leading to a stuffy or clammy feeling.
In the winter, it’s normal for humidity levels to drop slightly, so if you have excess moisture in your home, it can be a real problem.
What Should House Humidity Be in the Winter?
The ideal indoor humidity winter range is between 30% and 50%.
Staying within this range keeps your home or business space comfortable and healthy. Here’s why it matters:
Humidity too high (>50%): Condensation on windows, damp surfaces, mold growth, and poor air quality.
Humidity too low (<30%): Dry skin, excessive static electricity, scratchy nose or throat, and damage to wood floors or furniture.
Many Central Virginia homes struggle to maintain this balance during winter, particularly if their insulation, crawlspaces, or ventilation systems aren’t up to par. Thankfully, there are proven ways to lower your indoor humidity levels and make your home more comfortable and healthy.
How to Reduce Humidity in Your Home This Winter
1. Improve Insulation & Air Sealing
One of the most effective ways to control indoor humidity is to insulate and seal your home properly. Spray foam insulation is particularly effective because it seals cracks and gaps while offering superior thermal performance. By eliminating drafts and preventing air leaks, spray foam reduces moisture movement and helps maintain stable indoor conditions.
2. Condition Your Crawlspace
In homes with vented crawlspaces, cold, damp air rises into your living spaces, creating humidity problems and making your home feel cold. Crawl space repair (sometimes called crawlspace encapsulation) includes:
- Installing an effective vapor barrier to block moisture.
- Adding spray foam insulation to seal off air leaks.
- Improving airflow to keep the space dry and conditioned.
Sealing your crawlspace doesn’t just control humidity—it also improves air quality and makes your home more energy-efficient.
3. Optimize Ventilation
Proper ventilation is key to controlling humidity. Attic spaces, for example, often trap moisture due to poor ventilation or inadequate insulation. By installing spray foam insulation and improving attic airflow, you can prevent condensation, reduce humidity, and keep your home comfortable.
4. Use Dehumidifiers for Added Control
While insulation and air sealing address the root causes of humidity infiltration, dehumidifiers can offer additional help in problem areas. Combining moisture control with home improvements like spray foam insulation gives you long-term, effective results.
Responsible House: Central Virginia’s Local Home Humidity Experts
At Responsible House, we specialize in creating comfortable, energy-efficient homes and businesses in Virginia. We are independently-owned and our team of building science experts understands how the winter affects homes and buildings here and offers services to fix winter humidity problems effectively.
Plus, our services do more than just address humidity issues—they improve comfort year-round and lower monthly heating and cooling costs for years and years to come. Many of our services also qualify for a residential federal tax credit of up to $1,200 per year, making humidity control not only within your reach but more affordable too!
