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 narrow in on the weather outside. Nevertheless, it is recommended that your home has 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 been in the situation, you have probably at least heard about the effect humidity can have on how hot the weather feels. An 80-degree day in one location might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in an environment with heightened humidity. Humidity can impact the temps in your house as well. If there is too much humidity, it makes it difficult 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 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 harmful 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 takes a toll on the wood throughout your home, causing cracking and shrinking in your floors, trim and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, enhancing your risk of developing a cold or breathing challenges.
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 assess 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 to help improve the situation.
If you experience any of the warning signs listed above, or if you want a professional to come out and review the humidity in your home, J.L. Brady Company LLC can help. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at 309-517-7511. Our experts will answer your questions and help you identify next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.