The winter season has the lowest humidity of the year in the Puerto Vallarta area, with perfect beach day temperatures and cool evenings. However, if you’ve not previously lived in seaside tropical climate, there may be some things that you need to know about maintaining your home in a humid climate surrounded by salt water. We have a few tips to help.
Humidity can cause mold and mildew in your home, but there are some easy fixes to help make your home less humid.
1. Running the air-conditioning will lower the level of humidity in your home, particularly if your unit offers an anti-humidity setting.
2. Increasing the air-flow in your home by throwing open the windows and having fans going to move air also will reduce humidity levels in your home.
3. Invest in a dehumidifier. Portable units are available at most major grocery stores, Liverpool, and Home Depot, and will quickly pull humidity from your living environment.
4. Calcium chloride crystals are sold under many brand names and will naturally pull humidity out of the air. Costco offers a set that includes both powder and water collection units that can be placed around the home and are especially useful in closets to protect clothing.
Saltwater is another maintenance concern around your tropical home.
1. Clean the exteriors of your windows often and rinse well with fresh water. For metal window frames or fasteners, a spray of silicone or WD-40 can help slow corrosion from salt water over time.
2. Consider protecting your metal-front appliances with a coat of wax to help protect from rust.
3. Patio furniture usually suffers the most from salty air, so be sure to rinse it off weekly with fresh water and then dry completely and cover your patio furniture in the evenings or when not in use.
With a little additional attention, you can easily protect your home from humidity and salty air conditions to keep your property looking and feeling its best.
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