Dry ideas to dial down indoor humidity  Clean AC system, better
air circulation are relatively cheap fixes  October 04, 2011|By
Mike McClintock | Special to Tribune Newspapers  The relative
part of humidity, technically, is the percentage of moisture in
the air relative to the maximum amount the air can hold at that
temperature. It's not an intuitive concept. But it's clear what
happens as the percentage climbs: hot weather that was bad
enough feels worse.  Indoors, the natural response is to dial up
more AC. It makes the air cooler and drier— in a range of 30 to
50 percent relative humidity that works for most households,
with 40 percent being the target to control mold growth. But
many variables can increase dampness that causes condensation on
cold surfaces, fosters mold and musty odors, and swells wood;
doors and drawers that used to work smoothly barely budge.
Cooking, washing clothes, showering, and of course, sweating,
all contribute to the impact. When they gang up and the humidity
inside exceeds 55