Usually, we pay attention to temperatures as it relates to home comfort, but the humidity levels within your indoor environment play a bigger role than you might believe. Usually when we hear the word humidity, we narrow in on the weather outside. Nevertheless, it is strongly advocated that your indoor space maintains 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 occurs when you have too much or too little humidity?
Too Much Humidity
If you haven’t been in the situation, you’ve likely at least heard about the effect humidity can have on how hot the weather feels. An 80-degree day in one region might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in a spot with heightened humidity. This can happen in your house, too. If there is too much humidity, it is harder for your body to monitor internal temperatures.
Dehumidified air feels cooler, so you could 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 be a relief outdoors, too little humidity also has harmful 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 is enhanced, so you’ll experience more shocks when touching doorknobs and other items.
Lack of moisture can harm 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, heightening your risk of getting a cold.
What can you do?
Fortunately, there are solutions out there to help you assess and manage humidity levels in the home. A smart thermostat can help you gauge the air in your home to understand humidity levels. And if you are having trouble 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 a qualified technician to come out and assess the humidity levels in your home, Pepper AC & Htg Inc can help. You can book an appointment by contacting us at 940-202-1184. Our experts will review your challenges and help you determine next steps for achieving the best humidity level for your home comfort.