Why is the right amount of humidity so important for your home?

October 11, 2018
dust

Usually, we pay attention to temperatures as it relates to home comfort, but the humidity levels within your indoor environment play a bigger role than you might believe. Usually when we hear the word humidity, we think of the impact humidity has when we are outdoors. But, it is encouraged to make sure your house holds 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 a home has too much or too little humidity?

Too Much Humidity

If you haven’t been in the situation, you’ve likely at least heard about the influence humidity can have on how the temperatures feel outside. An 80-degree day in one region might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in place 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 provide you with energy savings.

Too Little Humidity

While drier air might be a relief 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 increases too, 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, enhancing your risk of getting a cold.

What can you do?

However, there are solutions out there to help you watch and control humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you measure the air in your home to see what levels you are coming in at. And if you are having challenges 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 see any of the warning signs listed above, or if you want a professional to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, Winters Heating and Cooling can help. You can arrange an appointment by contacting us at 317-406-5382. Our experts will review your challenges and help you identify next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.