Why Your Home Feels Damp and Humid During Summer Months
Summer humidity inside your home often starts below it, causing damp air, odors, and discomfort.
Why Does My House Feel Humid in Summer?
Summer humidity is great when you’re outside enjoying the sunshine. Inside your home, not so much. If your house feels damp, clammy, or smells musty, the problem may not be your air conditioner. It could be coming from below your home.
Building scientists estimate that up to 50% of the air on your first floor comes from your basement or crawl space. That means whatever is happening underneath your home directly affects your indoor air quality and comfort.
The Stack Effect: Why Basement and Crawl Space Air Rises
The stack effect explains how air moves through your home during warm weather:
- Warm air rises and escapes through upper levels of the house
- New air is pulled in from lower levels to replace it
- Basement or crawl space air is drawn upward into living areas
If the air below your home is damp, humid, or musty, those same conditions move upstairs. That’s why homes with wet crawl spaces often feel humid and smell unpleasant in summer.
Why Summer Humidity Feels Worse Indoors
You can’t control the weather, but you can control where moisture enters your home. If your basement or crawl space is damp, summer heat accelerates humidity, odors, and mold growth. That moisture can also affect floor supports, insulation, and overall comfort.
What You Can Do to Reduce Indoor Humidity
If your basement has never leaked, a high-quality dehumidifier is often a great first step. Sealing the rim joist, the area where the foundation meets the framing above, also helps block humid outdoor air.
Crawl spaces require a more customized approach. Factors like open vents, dirt floors, past water intrusion, and visible mold all influence the right solution. The good news is you don’t have to crawl under your home to figure it out.
The Right Long-Term Solution
In many homes, the most effective solution includes sealing and moisture control systems working together. These may include:
- Sealing the rim joist to block outside air
- Crawl space encapsulation with a CleanSpace® vapor barrier
- A crawl space sump pump to manage water
- A SaniDry™ Sedona dehumidifier to control humidity
These systems are designed to keep humid summer air outside where it belongs.
Start With a Free Estimate
If your home feels humid or smells musty during summer, Ayers Basement Systems can help. Our specialists will inspect your basement or crawl space, explain what’s happening, and recommend the right solution for your home.
Contact Ayers today for a free estimate and enjoy a cooler, drier, more comfortable home this summer.