Usually, we focus on temperatures when it comes to our home comfort, but the humidity levels in your home play a bigger role than you think. Generally when we hear the word humidity, we jump to the idea of undesirable weather outside. However, it is recommended that your home maintains a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. What exactly does that mean? The air in your house is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What happens when your indoor air has too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t experienced it, you have probably at least heard about the impact 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 place with increased humidity. The same thing can happen in your home. If there is too much humidity, it makes it difficult for your body to monitor internal temperatures.
Dehumidified air feels cooler, so you might have the ability to 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 feel good outdoors, too little humidity also has negative implications inside the home. Dry air can make your skin 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 can harm the wood throughout your home, creating cracking and shrinking in your floors, trim and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, heightening your risk of developing a cold or breathing challenges.
What can you do?
Luckily, there are solutions out there 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 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 stated above, or if you want an expert to come out and review the humidity in your home, Connolly Electric & Mechanical can help. You can schedule an appointment by contacting us at 928-251-4327. Our experts will answer your questions and help you determine next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.