Typically, we focus on temperatures when it comes to our home comfort, but the humidity levels inside your house play a bigger role than most people think. Normally when we hear the word humidity, we jump to the idea of undesirable weather outside. However, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space maintains a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. What exactly does that mean? The air inside your home 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 actually felt 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 a spot with increased 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 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 end with sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity increases too, so you’ll experience more shocks when touching doorknobs and other items.
Lack of moisture can harm the wood within your home, initiating cracking and shrinking in your furniture, trim and even floors. 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 monitor and control humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you gauge the air in your home so you can see what the humidity levels are inside. 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 are noticing any of the warning signs listed above, or if you want a professional to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, Marcos AC & Heating can help. You can arrange an appointment by calling us at 713-469-3357. Our experts will answer your questions and help you identify next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.