Oftentimes, we focus on temperatures when it comes to our home comfort, but the humidity levels within your indoor environment play a bigger role than most people think. Generally when we hear the word humidity, we narrow in on the weather outside. However, it is recommended that your home has 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 happens when a home has too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t actually felt it, you’ve likely at least heard about the effect 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 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 sustain comfort levels, which could provide you with energy savings.
Too Little Humidity
While drier air might provide a break outdoors, too little humidity also has harmful implications inside the home. Dry air can cause your skin to be itchy and cold and result in 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 around your home, causing cracking and shrinking in your trim, floors and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, increasing your risk of getting a cold.
What can you do?
Luckily, there are steps to help you watch and adjust 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 that offer a solution for getting to the right amount of humidity.
If you see any of the warning signs mentioned above, or if you want a professional to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. can help. You can schedule an appointment by reaching us at 956-630-3522. Our experts will answer your questions and help you identify next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.