The amount of moisture in the air can have a significant impact on your home’s overall health as well as your family’s health. Too much humidity can cause mold, mildew and other contaminants to grow in your home. Not only does this damage the structure of your home, it also can aggravate allergies and cause serious health issues for your family or any visitors.
Too little humidity can also cause health issues while also drying out wood and other materials inside your home. A dry house can leave you coughing while also causing paint or wood to chip or splinter.
Humidity can also cause issues with your home heating and air conditioning systems. Higher humidity will cause your air conditioning to work much harder in the summer months. Lower humidity can cause your heating system to work harder in the winter months.
There must be a balance of humidity in your home to make it a comfortable place and preserve your interior as well as you heating and air conditioning systems. During summer months, homes should have between 30 and 45 percent humidity. During the winter, humidity levels should be kept between 45 and 55 percent humidity.
How can I regulate my home humidity?
The following are some ideas on how you can help to balance your home’s humidity:
Install an inside weather station that measures humidity in your home. This will give you a good reading on where you are today and will help you to track improvements.
Use a humidifier if your humidity level is too low. These devices can be incorporated into your heating and air conditioning system or it can be a standalone unit. The humidifier will add moisture to the air in order to increase humidity levels. The type of humidifier you use will determine how much space can be covered and how well it can lower the overall humidity of your home.
Dehumidifiers are designed to lower the humidity levels of an area. A dehumidifier can also be installed as part of your heating and air conditioning system if you like – or you can have a separate unit. Dehumidifiers are ideal for basement areas that may accumulate a lot of moisture, or any other areas of your home that can have high humidity levels.
Fans are very helpful to keep air moving throughout your home. Airflow will help to regulate humidity levels and even out areas that might be out of balance. You can use ceiling fans as well as regular room fans to help to improve air movement. This is particularly helpful in the summer, but the use of fans can be reduced in the winter if they cause any discomfort.
Ceiling exhaust fans installed in bathrooms will help to remove extra moisture from showers or baths. You can cut on the fan during your shower or bath and then leave it running for about 20 minutes after you have finished so that as much moisture as possible is channeled outside.
Oven and range fans will also help to reduce humidity issues when used regularly. The heat can evaporate water vapor which could increase the humidity levels in your home. By using a fan during cooking, the heat is channeled outside of the home and has less opportunity to affect humidity levels.
Adding water features such as small fountains, aquariums or other items can increase your humidity levels and make your home more comfortable. You can also add a pan of water near heat such as on a stove or a fireplace to add moisture to the air and improve the humidity of your home.
The age of your home, its insulation and its heating and air ventilation systems can all impact how effective your humidity management can be. It is best to consult with professionals that can help you to better regulate your humidity inside your home and find more efficient ways to manage humidity. Contact James Lane for more information.
