A system for controllably releasing humid air including a washing unit having a housing; a washing drum within the housing; a port defining a first opening operable to intake air from an outside atmosphere into an internal cavity of the washing drum; a vent defining a second opening operable to direct the air to flow out of the internal cavity of the washing drum; and a release pipe with a first end coupled to the vent and a second end terminating on an exterior of the washing unit to enable the air to flow out of the vent to an exterior of the housing. The system also includes a damper positioned within the release pipe operable to open or close the release pipe to release humidity to the outside atmosphere and a processor configured to communicate with an external measurement device and operable to selectively open or close the damper.

A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of wash liquid into the wash tub. The method also includes activating a heater in thermal communication with the wash tub. As a result of activating the heater, the wash liquid is heated. The method further includes measuring a humidity value with a humidity sensor positioned and configured to measure a humidity within the wash tub and determining, based on the measured humidity value, a steam generation status.