Typically, we pay attention to temperatures as it relates to home comfort, but the humidity levels inside your house play a bigger role than you might believe. Generally when we hear the word humidity, we jump to the idea of undesirable weather outside. Nevertheless, it is encouraged to make sure your house has a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. What do those levels mean? The air inside your home is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What takes place when your indoor air has too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t experienced it, you’ve likely at least heard about the effect humidity can have on how hot the weather feels. An 80-degree day in one area might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in an environment with more humidity. The same thing can happen in your home. If there is too much humidity, it more challenging for your body to monitor internal temperatures.
Dehumidified air feels cooler, so you may be able to set your thermostat at a higher temp and sustain comfort levels, which could also result in energy savings.
Too Little Humidity
While drier air might feel good outdoors, too little humidity also has negative implications inside the home. Dry air can make your skin feel cold and itchy and develop sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity increases too, so you’ll experience more shocks when touching doorknobs and other items.
Lack of moisture can harm the wood within your home, causing cracking and shrinking in your trim, floors and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, enhancing your risk of developing a cold or breathing challenges.
What can you do?
Fortunately, there are options to help you monitor and manage humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you gauge the air in your home to understand humidity levels. And if you are having trouble getting in the 30 to 50 percent range for humidity, there are humidifiers and dehumidifiers that offer a solution for getting to the right amount of humidity.
If you experience any of the warning signs mentioned above, or if you want a qualified technician to come out and review the humidity in your home, West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can help. You can book an appointment by reaching us at 614-879-9091. Our experts will review your challenges and help you identify next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.