Oftentimes, we key in on temperatures when considering home comfort, but the humidity levels inside your house play a bigger role than you think. Usually when we hear the word humidity, we jump to the idea of undesirable weather outside. But, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space has a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. How do you measure those levels? The air in your house is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What occurs when your indoor air has too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t actually felt it, you have probably at least heard about the effect humidity can have on how hot it feels outside. An 80-degree day in one area might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in a spot with heightened humidity. Humidity can impact the temps in your house as well. If there is too much humidity, it more challenging for your body to monitor internal temperatures.
Dehumidified air feels cooler, so you could 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 provide a break outdoors, too little humidity also has undesirable implications inside the home. Dry air can trigger your skin to feel cold and itchy and develop sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity goes up as well, so you’ll experience more shocks when touching doorknobs and other items.
Lack of moisture impacts the wood around your home, initiating cracking and shrinking in your trim, floors and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, increasing your risk of coming down with colds or having breathing difficulties.
What can you do?
Luckily, there are options to help you assess and control humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you assess the air in your home to see what levels you are coming in at. And if you are having difficulties 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 are noticing any of the warning signs stated above, or if you want a professional to come out and assess the humidity levels in your home, Halverson Brothers Inc can help. You can arrange an appointment by calling us at 715-352-4052. Our experts will listen to your concerns and help you determine next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.