Humidity is no foreign concept when living in and around the Philadelphia area. We're all used to that hot, sticky feeling when we step outside in the summer months. But it's likely that we don't think about humidity much after we go inside.
Each time we shower, cook, and even breathe, we increase the amount of moisture in the air, thereby raising the humidity levels in our homes. Ensuring that these levels are not too high or too low are important to our comfort, health, and home's integrity. So, what is the ideal indoor humidity level? We'll go over what humidity actually is, what the recommended levels are, how it affects you, and how you can control it.
What is Relative Humidity?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air; and it isn't difficult to tell when it's humid. We can all tell when the air feels wet, clammy, and heavy, especially in and around the Philadelphia area. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in a water-air mixture compared to the maximum amount possible. For example, when the relative humidity is 100 percent, the air is retaining the most moisture possible at that temperature without precipitation.
What is the Ideal Home Humidity Level
Most of us feel comfortable when the relative humidity is somewhere between 30 and 60 percent. When indoor humidity levels are below 30 percent, the air is too dry, which can negatively affect your home and your health. On the other hand, excess moisture can also damage your home and cause health issues. Within this "comfortable" range, the recommended indoor humidity level depends on the temperatures outside. A good rule of thumb is 40 to 50 percent in the summer and 30 to 40 percent in the winter. You may be thinking...wouldn't I want higher indoor humidity in the winter to combat cold, dry air? Good question! Since cold air doesn't hold as much moisture as warm air, you will want a lower humidity level to avoid condensation. Condensation occurs when water droplets collect on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.
How Does Humidity Affect Me?
Benefits of ideal humidity
Keeping your indoor humidity between the recommended levels will benefit your health in many ways. Here are some positive effects that you can expect: clear sinuses and better breathing, reduced risk of snoring, lower risk of infections, prevention of dry skin and sore throats, improved sleep quality, and better hydration. Additionally, proper humidity levels will help avoid issues like warping furniture and peeling paint.
Negative effects of high humidity levels
Stuffy air in rooms that are lacking ventilation can cause great discomfort. Worse than this, though, is that overly high humidity creates the perfect environment for unwanted growth. Bacteria, mold, mildew, fungi, and other airborne contaminants all thrive in humid air. These pollutants lower your indoor air quality and lead to allergies, respiratory issues, and other illnesses.
In addition, high humidity will physically affect your home. For one, it can lead to condensation on walls, furniture, and windows. Water vapors can also be absorbed into your carpets and clothes and become breeding grounds for harmful organisms.
Negative effects of low humidity levels
On the flip side, a relative humidity level that's too low is not beneficial either. Excessively low humidity over an extended period of time can cause dry and irritated skin. The dry air can also irritate your eyes, nasal passage, and throat, causing inflammation.
Wood floors and furniture may feel the effects, too. Typically, wooden furniture and flooring contain some fluids in their composition. When they are placed in a low humidity environment for a long period, they can lose their water content over time, causing them to crack.
How Can I Create Optimal Home Humidity?
Air conditioners
In general, your air conditioner should be able to do the job when it come to removing humidity. Your system works to blow warm air from your home over the cool evaporator coil. The cool coil then pulls moisture from the indoor air and removes it outside. This gives you the overall feeling of cool air throughout your home.
Humidifiers/dehumidifiers
Another great way to control humidity is to use humidifiers and dehumidifiers. You can opt for portable units, or full humidification/dehumidification systems that are part of your HVAC system. These systems, paired with other indoor air quality products, can create optimal IAQ levels in your home.
Smart thermostats
Pairing your HVAC system with a smart thermostat with built in humidity sensors is another great way to achieve perfect humidity levels. Smart devices can send signals to your air conditioner based on the room's current levels, or you can set your preferences and then let the smart device do all the work.
If you live in the Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia area and would like to find comfort within your home, visit our website or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200 to learn more.
