Indoor humidity levels can play a huge role in how you feel. Because of this, you might want to begin researching humidifiers for your home.
The Effects of Different Indoor Humidity Levels
Low indoor humidity levels can cause:
- dry skin
- dry eyes
- itchiness
- sore throat
- allergy symptoms
- asthma flare-ups
- increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory illness
- bloody nose
High indoor humidity levels can cause:
- growth and spread of mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses
- allergy symptoms
- asthma flare-ups
- respiratory issues
- skin rashes
- fatigue
Of course, all these symptoms may cause you to have problems sleeping, which could be why you feel like a zombie by late afternoon.
In short, many of your health issues may result from poor indoor humidity levels.
Why Do Indoor Humidity Levels Fluctuate?
Of course, your indoor humidity levels result mainly from your seasonal weather and local climate. However, your home’s design and construction and daily habits also contribute to your home’s humidity. For example, steam radiators, moisture-generating appliances such as dryers, cooking, and hot showers can play a role in indoor humidity levels.
Generally, most of us deal with excess humidity during the summer and need more moisture in the air during the winter.
What is a Good Indoor Humidity Level?
Indoor relative humidity should be kept between 30 percent and 50 percent, according to this Environmental Protection Agency report.
How Do You Maintain the Ideal Indoor Humidity Level?
Most homeowners who seek to maintain ideal indoor humidity levels do so with portable units, their HVAC systems, or whole house units.
Portable humidifiers or dehumidifiers are an excellent choice for renters who can’t install whole-house units. However, the coverage area for these systems is small. Also, high-quality units are expensive and can be loud. They also require regular cleaning and costly filter replacement to stay sanitary.
Your HVAC system also plays a role in maintaining your indoor air quality. However, your air conditioner or heater does not measure indoor humidity. As a result, you can’t adjust either to achieve low humidity or high humidity levels.
We recommend opting for whole-home humidity control solutions that can be installed directly into your home’s existing HVAC system.
Whole House Humidifiers
There are different types of whole-home humidifiers that are designed to add moisture to the air.
Steam Humidifiers
A steam humidifier heats water in an internal reservoir. Then, the furnace blower circulates the steam through the ductwork.
Evaporative Humidifiers
Evaporative humidifiers pull air into a device where it passes through a moisture-saturated wick pad (that remains saturated by an internal reservoir.) The humid air passes through a filter and flows back into your home.
Whole-Home Dehumidification
A whole-home dehumidifier pulls air into the device and removes moisture. Then, the drier air circulates through the house.
Seek Expert Advice to Maintain Appropriate Humidity Levels
Achieving the ideal relative humidity is more complicated than one short article can describe. Managing this alone can result in excess moisture, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Or on the other hand, you could be causing a dry air environment that is causing an increase in respiratory problems.
You may have relied on HOP Energy for affordable and reliable heating oil delivery. You can also turn to us for whole-home humidification and dehumidification solutions. We will help you select a properly-sized model that will work with your current HVAC system, the size of your home, and our unique Northeastern climate. Contact your local HOP Energy HVAC subsidiary to learn more.
Key Takeaways on Maintaining the Proper Humidity Levels in Your Home
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Both high and low levels of humidity can cause health issues or general discomfort.
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Your home’s relative humidity should be between 30 and 50 percent.
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High-quality portable dehumidifiers and humidifiers are expensive to buy and maintain and only cover a small area.
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Your heating and cooling system can’t be set to specific humidity levels.
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Seek the help from an expert HVAC company to buy a whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier.