Why is the right amount of humidity so important for your home?

Typically, we pay attention to 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 think of the impact humidity has when we are outdoors. However, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space has a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. How do you measure those levels? The air inside your home is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.

What happens when your indoor air has too much or too little humidity?

Too Much Humidity

If you haven’t experienced it, you have probably at least heard about the influence humidity can have on how the temperatures feel outside. An 80-degree day in one area might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in an environment with more 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 still feel comfortable, which could also result in energy savings.

Too Little Humidity

While drier air might provide a break outdoors, too little humidity also has undesirable implications inside the home. Dry air can make your skin feel cold and itchy and develop sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity is enhanced, so you’ll notice that touching some items such as doorknobs will give you a little shock.

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, increasing your risk of coming down with colds or having breathing difficulties.

What can you do?

Fortunately, there are options to help you monitor and manage humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you assess the air in your home to understand humidity levels. And if you are having difficulties 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 stated above, or if you want a qualified technician to come out and review the humidity in your home, Abilene Air-Tech Inc can help. You can arrange an appointment by reaching us at (325) 692-5850. Our experts will review your challenges and help you identify next steps for attaining the best humidity level for your home comfort.