Usually, we focus on temperatures when considering home comfort, but the humidity levels within your indoor environment play a bigger role than you think. Normally when we hear the word humidity, we jump to the idea of undesirable weather outside. Nevertheless, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space maintains a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. What do those levels mean? The indoor air is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What happens when a home has too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t experienced it, you have probably at least heard about the effect humidity can have on how hot the weather feels. An 80-degree day in one region might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in a spot with heightened humidity. This can happen in your house, too. 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 still feel comfortable, 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 cause your skin to be itchy and cold and develop sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity is enhanced, 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, causing cracking and shrinking in your trim, floors and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, heightening your risk of getting a cold.
What can you do?
Luckily, 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 so you can see what the humidity levels are inside. And if you are having trouble getting in the 30 to 50 percent range for humidity, there are humidifiers and dehumidifiers to help improve the situation.
If you are noticing any of the warning signs mentioned above, or if you want an expert to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, Jett's Heating & Air Inc. can help. You can arrange an appointment by calling us at 815-410-1128. Our experts will listen to your concerns and help you determine next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.