Have you ever heard the expression “every home is different?” It’s true, every single home is going to be designed and put together differently depending on the people who live in it. Your cousin’s home probably looks at least a little different from your best friend’s home, and that’s one of the fun parts about being a homeowner. Your home gets to be the way you want it, and nobody can tell you otherwise.
When it comes to comfort, this is going to remain true. Every home is going to have its own comfort preferences. Homeowners throughout Mount Holly, Lumberton, and Evesham are going to live differently and with different comfort preferences. But what if we told you that there is such a thing as having extreme comfort preferences that could damage your home, your health, and your energy efficiency? We’d argue that humidity levels need to be normalized when it comes to indoor air quality in Burlington County. And here’s why.
How Humidity Levels Are Expressed
Since humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, it’s often expressed as a percentage. Zero precent relative humidity means that there’s no water in the atmosphere at all and it’s akin to a desert. 100% relative humidity basically means that there’s so much moisture in the atmosphere that it’s practically raining. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about how “normal” humidity is expressed.
Everyone still has a preference for whether they like their home more or less humid. Generally between 40% and 60% relative humidity is going to keep your home from being damaged and your health from encountering problems. Humidity will usually be lower in the winter and higher in the summer due to natural amounts of moisture in the air.
Knowing How to Set Your Humidity
With a whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier, you can address some of the problems that come from having humidity levels that are too high or too low. Try to set your humidity within the normal range so that you can experience the benefits without the problems.
The Cons of Humidity That’s Too High
When humidity levels get too high, your home can feel muggy and uncomfortable. Too much moisture in the air makes it harder for our sweat to evaporate when we’re too hot, meaning that temperatures feel even hotter.
Also, too much humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth, since there’s more water in the atmosphere for a mold infestation to absorb. That moisture can even condense and turn into water droplets, leading to standing water in your home, which is never good!
The Cons of Humidity That’s Too Low
When humidity is too low, especially in the winter, it’s going to cause furniture and parts of your home to crack and break. Without moisture in the air, things dry out and become brittle, including your skin and hair. Dry air also doesn’t retain heat as well as humid air, so your heating system is going to consume more energy and work harder to do its job.
Also, the mucus membranes that protect your nose and sinuses will dry out and do a worse job at keeping your body healthy. Without moisture, you’re more susceptible to airborne illnesses, which is why dry environments can lead to more cases of the cold, flu, and other illnesses.
It’s time to protect your home with a new humidifier or dehumidifier. Contact Ambient Comfort to schedule an appointment!