What is the ideal indoor humidity?
Healthy
indoor air quality is a valuable facet of any home. After all, who doesn’t love
relaxing in the comfortable environment of your home with family and friends?
However, dry or excessively moist indoor air can put an end to this pretty
picture. That’s why it is important for homeowners to ask themselves, what is
the ideal indoor humidity?
Striking the balance
When it
comes to managing your indoor humidity, it is important to strike the right
balance. As a general rule of thumb, for a comfortable atmosphere, a level between
30% and 50% relative humidity is perfect. By maintaining a relative humidity
below 50% you will be preventing the infestation of dust mites and other such
pollutants. Moreover, for a closer understanding of the ideal indoor humidity,
it is important to take the climate into account. For instance, in winter
weather it is important to consider the condensation of windows which may
result from high humidity levels. Thus, the ideal relative humidity is between
30% and 40%.
Why is it important?
Households
with high or low humidity levels can suffer from a range of issues such as poor
concentration, headaches, fatigue and more. Here are some common problems
associated with unbalanced humidity levels:
Low humidity:
- Low indoor humidity can lead to a dry atmosphere around your home.
- A humidity level below 25% can lead to damage to wooden furniture as well as floorboards.
- Aside from damaging the contents of your home, low humidity can also have a negative impact on the health of your family. Such environments can lead to dry throats and eyes as well as skin irritation.
High humidity:
- High indoor humidity within your house can lead to mould and mildew.
- Consequently, this can also be disadvantageous to your health and wellbeing especially for allergy and asthma suffers.
- Due to the excessive moisture in the air, the atmosphere within the home can feel unpleasant while stains may appear on walls and ceilings.
Need a helping hand?
Balancing
indoor humidity and achieving the perfect air quality can be a difficult task. So if you find yourself
struggling and need a helping hand, contact your local heating and airconditioning specialist to test the humidity of your home and devise a suitable
solution. In most cases, indoor air quality systems such as a humidifier or
dehumidifier can be used.
Humidifiers:
- Humidifiers are available in a range of options such as evaporators, steam vaporizers, central, impeller and ultrasonic humidifiers.
- They are effective in eliminating the feeling of dampness within the home as well as preventing dry throats, lungs, nose and eyes.
- Humidifiers need to be regularly maintained for optimal use. Be sure to refill the humidifier on a frequent basis to achieve best results.
- Whole house ducted humidifiers work the best as you don’t need to refill them and they can do the entire house not just a room.
Dehumidifiers:
- Dehumidifiers commonly employ two methods of decreasing indoor humidity levels. This includes refrigeration and absorption.
- Dehumidifiers can successfully remove any musty odours which may have been caused by high indoor humidity.
- Like humidifiers, dehumidifiers also need regular care to work efficiently. It is vital to thoroughly clean the unit regularly to insure it is working correctly.
If you are
suffering from poor indoor air quality, contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning and speak to one of our certified
technicians to see what you can do next.
