Oftentimes, we pay attention to temperatures when considering home comfort, but the humidity levels within your indoor environment play a bigger role than you think. Generally 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. What exactly does that mean? The indoor air 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 influence 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 a spot with more 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 provide you with energy savings.
Too Little Humidity
While drier air might be a relief outdoors, too little humidity also has negative implications inside the home. Dry air can cause your skin to be itchy and cold and end with 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 takes a toll on 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, heightening your risk of coming down with colds or having breathing difficulties.
What can you do?
However, there are solutions out there to help you assess and manage 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 to help improve the situation.
If you experience any of the warning signs listed above, or if you want a qualified technician to come out and review the humidity in your home, Patterson & Stirling Inc can help. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at 814-308-0416. Our experts will answer your questions and help you determine next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.