Table Of Content
Your heating and cooling systems can play a key role in keeping humidity at bay. The ideal indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 50%, but this doesn’t mean you must rush out and buy a humidifier if you’re reading 51% at specific points of the year. I typically advise my clients that intervention is necessary when indoor RH levels exceed 60% for more than brief periods.
How to Decrease Humidity Levels
Best dehumidifiers UK 2024: tried, tested and recommended - Ideal Home
Best dehumidifiers UK 2024: tried, tested and recommended.
Posted: Fri, 01 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
In fact, low humidity and low temperatures have been found to alter the transmission of infectious disease particles, such as the influenza virus2. Therefore, low humidity levels have been found to facilitate the spread of infection, thus affecting the immune system. This means that the air contains 30-50% of the maximum possible moisture that it otherwise could.
Keeping a good humidity level
“A dehumidifier is the best and most economical way to monitor and resolve damp related issues in the home,” confirms Chris. “Indoor humidity can be measured by using a piece of equipment called a hygrometer, which is a handheld device that can be purchased online or from a DIY store,” advises Chris Michael. It is all well and good knowing what the humidity in a room or in your house should be, but do you know how to actually measure it?
Here’s What Potential Buyers Need to Know About Radon in Homes
Beyond this broad range, it's up to the homeowner and residents to narrow down the perfect setting. For example, if you have 50% humidity as well as below freezing temperatures outside, you would naturally heat the air up indoors to keep warm. Because of this, condensation can form and you would have a heightened risk of mold formation.
Handyman: Lower humidity at home for summer comfort - Detroit News
Handyman: Lower humidity at home for summer comfort.
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You may be more susceptible to hay fever and allergies because dust mites thrive in high humidity. Excess humidity for an extended period could cause mold growth, which can lead to health concerns such as sneezing, a runny nose, skin rashes, and red, itchy eyes. Long-term mold exposure can result in persistent headaches, confusion, insomnia, and severe respiratory conditions.
Indicators of High Humidity Levels in Your Home
While these are typically much less expensive than whole-house humidifiers, you may need multiple portables to increase the relative humidity in large homes. If your thermostat is from the Dark Ages and won’t show your indoor humidity, don’t fret! Digital hygrometers (typically dual function with temperature) are available in various types and styles, starting at just $10 to $15. Look for a model with a published humidity accuracy range of no higher than +/- 3% relative humidity (RH). A ceiling fan’s breeze makes water evaporate, and exhaust fans remove humidity from damp rooms. Heating removes some of the air’s moisture and as the cold air from outdoors is already carrying very little water vapour, low indoor humidity can occur pretty quickly.
Mindful Water Usage
In a practicalsense, this means that a humid room will always feel warmer to us than a dryroom, even if they are the same temperature. The humidity of a room plays ahuge role in how we can use heating and cooling systems more efficiently. In the southwest climate zone, Arizona has the lowest annual relative humidity of 53% in the morning and 25% in the afternoon.
As humidity is simply the amount of water vapor present in the air, a multitude of things can cause these levels to fluctuate. Anything from drying laundry to leaks can give off moisture which can lead to humidity. Even the moisture trapped in warm air can touch cold walls and revert to water. This is nothing to worry about, unless the levels get excessively high or excessively low. In this case, increase the ventilation or reduce the moisture through proper ventilation. You can buy a digital hygrometer online or at a local big-box store.
As such, relative humidity by itself does not directly indicate the actual amount of water vapor present (definition from National Weather Service). Relative humidity is typically high near the coast, but may be quite low along the foothills. In areas of the U.S. where the humidity remains high most of the year, a heating and air conditioning system has to work doubly hard to remove the water from the indoor air. You might be surprised to learn that higher than average humidity levels in a house could also be causing your heating bills to rise.
A properly sized and installed dehumidifier should not need to operate all day to reduce humidity to ideal levels. Average run times can vary by moisture removal capacity, location, and seasonal weather changes, but a good target is 12 hours per day. Basements with water intrusion issues may be an exception to this rule. The most common causes of high humidity in a home are poor ventilation and malfunctioning HVAC systems. Wet areas, such as bathrooms, require adequate aeration to avoid moisture buildup. Exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, and an operational air conditioner will help eliminate the issue.
Learn from experts how to measure humidity, detect signs of low and high indoor humidity, and maintain the ideal humidity level in the house. No matter where you live, humidity can put a damper on your health and overall comfort. In the summer, humidity can make the heat feel even worse, causing people to feel lethargic, irritable and generally unwell. While many people think of humidity as hot, heavy and sticky outdoor air, it’s important to also consider your home’s indoor humidity levels.
Keeping it in this range helps prevent the growth of harmful mold and mildew and the presence of dust mites. When you use the stovetop for cooking andboiling water, you’ll release steam into the air. Simply using the stovetopmore often will help improve your home’s humidity level. Leave lids off of potsand pans, and don’t use range hoods, to release even more moisture. Animportant thing to remember is that humidity plays a big role in how we “feel”temperature, because warm air holds more moisture than cold air.
When the humidity level drops below 30 percent, the air can become uncomfortable to breathe. These dry conditions can also dry out the wooden floorboards, wood furniture, cabinetry, tables, doors, window frames, and more, causing the wood to crack. Cold spots become more common when the humidity levels are lower, though this may be a result of a faulty furnace, clogged ductwork, or drafty windows.
The pores in leather, which let in moisture, can shrink so the skins become less supple. Maintaining optimal room humidity can help these items last longer. If you have concerns about your home’s indoor humidity, contact a top-rated HVAC service provider for professional assistance.
Indoor humidity fluctuates depending on the room, activities, and the season. For example, humidity tends to be lower during dry winters because cold air carries less moisture. Maintaining the appropriate indoor humidity is beneficial for both your health and the structural integrity of your home.
No comments:
Post a Comment