Some things just go together — peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, humidity and comfort… Okay, okay, we know what you are thinking and yes, this is going to be another blog about humidity. Why? Because it’s important! Striking the perfect balance of humidity in your home is key to enjoying a comfortable and efficient environment.
In general, most of us prefer a relative humidity level of around 30%-50% — anything above or below that can impact your comfort, efficiency, and even your health! Therefore, it is important to be aware of the effects of high and low humidity and learn about what you can do to restore a perfect balance in your home. All you have to do is keep reading below to find out more.
What is Relative Humidity?
Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air expressed as a percentage. It tells us how much water vapor is in the air compared to how much it could hold at that temperature. For example, if the relative humidity is 50%, it means the air is holding one half of the water vapor it can hold.
But, Why Does This Matter
As we already mentioned, humans are most comfortable with a relative humidity level of around 30%-50%, with the ideal being approximately 45%. So, anything outside of this range can be a detriment for a number of reasons:
The Effects of High Humidity
Air that is too humid can certainly impact your home, health, and comfort in a variety of ways — there’s a reason the saying goes, “It’s not the heat it’s the humidity!” Here are some of the ways too much moisture in your indoor air can impact you:
- Higher energy bills: High humidity levels make it much harder for your air conditioner to do its job.
- Warped furnishings: Excess moisture can cause your wooden furnishings to warp and can even cause wallpaper to peel off your walls.
- Mold growth: A moist environment is the perfect place for mold and mildew to thrive, which can certainly impact your health.
The Effects of Low Humidity
- Frequent illness: Dry air can cause your mucous membranes to dry out, making it easier for germs and bacteria to enter your body.
- Dry, itchy skin: If your skin feels dry and itchy every winter, it is likely that you are dealing with the effects of low humidity.
- Cracked furnishings: Low humidity levels can cause your wooden furnishings to dry out, leading to cracks!
What Can Be Done?
The best way to control the humidity levels in your home is by installing either a dehumidifier, a humidifier, or both (depending on what your needs are!) Whole-house dehumidifiers are used to remove excess moisture from your indoor air while whole-house humidifiers are used to put moisture back into the air.
Fortunately for you, all you have to do is contact a Jackson, MS air conditioning contractor to have your new whole-house indoor air quality system installed!
To learn more about the benefits of dehumidifiers and humidifiers, contact the team at Air South Cooling and Heating today!
