Usually, we focus on temperatures when considering home comfort, but the humidity levels inside your house play a bigger role than you might believe. Usually when we hear the word humidity, we narrow in on the weather outside. Nevertheless, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space 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 happens when you have too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t experienced it, chances are you have at least heard about the impact humidity can have on how hot the weather feels. An 80-degree day in one location might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in a spot with more humidity. This can happen in your house, too. If there is too much humidity, it is harder for your body to monitor internal temperatures.
Dehumidified air feels cooler, so you could set your thermostat at a higher temp and maintain your home comfort, which could offer 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 cause your skin to be itchy and cold and result in sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity goes up as well, so you’ll notice that touching some items such as doorknobs will give you a little shock.
Lack of moisture can harm the wood within your home, creating cracking and shrinking in your floors, trim and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, increasing your risk of developing a cold or breathing challenges.
What can you do?
However, there are steps to help you watch and manage humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you gauge 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 to help improve the situation.
If you experience any of the warning signs mentioned above, or if you want a professional to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, All Weather Heating & Air Conditioning Inc can help. You can arrange an appointment by reaching us at 256-801-4701. Our experts will listen to your concerns and help you identify next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.