In Bryan-College Station, we’re more than familiar with humidity, but that doesn’t mean you should experience that humidity inside your home. However, at this time of year, there’s another concern. The air in your home might be too dry, causing problems with dry skin and upper respiratory irritation. So what’s the right balance? If you need a certain amount of humidity in your home to keep it comfortable, how much is too much? What can you do to ensure you have just the right amount? Let’s break down everything you need to know about humidity levels when it comes to your home.
Ideal Humidity Levels
While you don’t want the air in your home to be too dry, you do want your humidity levels to be low. Of course, the humidity levels will depend on the time of year. They’ll inevitably be higher during the summer and more difficult to control than in winter. You can measure your humidity levels with an indoor humidity monitor. In the winter, you want humidity levels of about 25-40 percent at best, while in the summer you want humidity levels of less than 60 percent.
Signs of High Humidity
Typically, if your humidity levels are too high, you’ll be able to feel it in the sticky nature of the air. You may also find issues in your home with window condensation or the air might feel thicker in the bathroom or areas like the washer and dryer room. In worse cases, high humidity could cause mold growth, although obviously this is something that homeowners prefer to prevent by controlling their humidity levels before it gets to that point.
Signs of Low Humidity
On the other hand, the signs look very different if your home’s humidity levels are too low. You may notice cracks in wood furniture or feel dry skin or dry eyes. If you find yourself shocking your finger every time you touch something metal in your home, or your plants seem unusually dry despite regular care, your home is probably dealing with low humidity.
How to Control Humidity in Your Home
To control the humidity levels in your home, it’s best to know whether you’re dealing with high humidity or low humidity levels. If you’re dealing with high humidity levels, as might be the case in the summer months, you can invest in a dehumidifier to help to lower that humidity. Low humidity levels, however, often come down to air leakage in your home in the colder months. Make sure that the home is properly weatherstripped and insulated so that dry air can’t get in. Air purifiers will also help to cleanse the air of harmful bacteria and viruses that our immune systems can become susceptible to when the air is too dry.
Having issues with your indoor air quality, particularly when it comes to humidity levels? Check out Air Solutions’ top of the line indoor air quality products or contact us today for more information on how to resolve the issue.