Oftentimes, we key in on temperatures when considering home comfort, but the humidity levels inside your house play a bigger role than you think. Usually when we hear the word humidity, we narrow in on the weather outside. However, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space maintains a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. What do those levels mean? The air in your house is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What takes place when you have too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t been in the situation, chances are you have 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 a spot with increased 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 might have the ability to set your thermostat at a higher temp and maintain your home comfort, which could also result in energy savings.
Too Little Humidity
While drier air might feel good outdoors, too little humidity also has harmful 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 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 within your home, initiating cracking and shrinking in your furniture, trim and even floors. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, enhancing your risk of coming down with colds or having breathing difficulties.
What can you do?
Fortunately, 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 understand humidity levels. 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 experience any of the warning signs mentioned above, or if you want an expert to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, Premium Air Services LLC can help. You can arrange an appointment by contacting us at 713-364-9957. Our experts will listen to your concerns and help you identify next steps for achieving the best humidity level for your home comfort.