Typically, we focus on temperatures when it comes to our 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. How do you measure those levels? The air in your house 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 actually felt it, you’ve likely at least heard about the impact humidity can have on how hot it feels outside. An 80-degree day in one area might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in place with heightened humidity. Humidity can impact the temps in your house as well. If there is too much humidity, it more challenging 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 provide you with 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 result in sore throats and chapped lips. The amount of static electricity goes up as well, so you’ll notice that touching some items such as doorknobs will give you a little shock.
Lack of moisture impacts the wood throughout your home, creating cracking and shrinking in your floors, trim and furniture. The dry air also affects your body’s mucous membranes, enhancing your risk of getting a cold.
What can you do?
However, there are solutions out there to help you watch and manage humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you measure the air in your home to see what levels you are coming in at. And if you are having trouble getting in the 30 to 50 percent range for humidity, there are humidifiers and dehumidifiers that can provide additional support.
If you see any of the warning signs listed above, or if you want a qualified technician to come out and check out your home’s humidity levels, Titan Heating & Air Conditioning can help. You can arrange an appointment by reaching us at 541-286-6617. Our experts will review your challenges and help you identify next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.