Oftentimes, 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 jump to the idea of undesirable weather outside. Nevertheless, it is encouraged to make sure your house maintains a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent. How do you measure those levels? The indoor air is holding between 30 to 50 percent of the maximum amount of moisture it can hold.
What happens when you have 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 hot it feels outside. An 80-degree day in one region might feel cooler than an 80-degree day in an environment with heightened 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 may be able 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 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 experience more shocks when touching doorknobs and other items.
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, heightening your risk of developing a cold or breathing challenges.
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 challenges 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 experience any of the warning signs mentioned above, or if you want an expert to come out and review the humidity in your home, West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services can help. You can arrange an appointment by contacting us at (616) 319-1436. Our experts will review your challenges and help you determine next steps for reaching the best humidity level for your home comfort.