Usually, 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 encouraged to make sure your house holds a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. What exactly does that mean? The indoor air is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What occurs when your indoor air 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 influence humidity can have on how hot it feels outside. An 80-degree day in one location might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in place with increased humidity. Humidity can impact the temps in your house as well. If there is too much humidity, it is harder 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 sustain comfort levels, which could offer energy savings.
Too Little Humidity
While drier air might feel good outdoors, too little humidity also has undesirable implications inside the home. Dry air can trigger your skin to feel cold and itchy and develop sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity increases too, so you’ll notice that touching some items such as doorknobs will give you a little shock.
Lack of moisture can harm 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, heightening your risk of getting a cold.
What can you do?
Luckily, there are steps to help you monitor and manage 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 to help improve the situation.
If you experience any of the warning signs listed above, or if you want an expert to come out and assess the humidity levels in your home, Anderson Heating & A/C can help. You can schedule an appointment by contacting us at 775-230-7628. Our experts will review your challenges and help you determine next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.