Maintain proper humidity for comfort and safety

Humidity can affect how comfortable a person may feel outdoors. However, humidity also affects indoor comfort and the condition of items inside the house. Maintaining proper humidity levels is important.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Too much humidity can make the air feel thick and make it hard to breathe. Too little humidity can cause static electricity and dry out the skin. Many people prefer moderate levels of humidity.

According to experts, optimum humidity is between 30 and 60 percent. Anything above or below those percentages can make indoor spaces seem uncomfortable and contribute to certain health problems or deterioration of household structures.

Dry House Concerns

While it would seem a dry house would be ideal, low humidity can cause shrinking and other issues with wood, including causing gaps or loose floorboards. It also may contribute to cracks in plaster or drywall. Eventually pests may be able to enter the house through these points and cause even more destruction. An overly dry house also can be a fire hazard. Static electricity and dry conditions may prove problematic. In terms of health, a dry home can cause skin irritation and dryness of the respiratory system, leaving a person more susceptible to illnesses.

Wet House Concerns

On the opposite side of the spectrum, a damp house is not beneficial either. Humidity can expand and warp wood in the home and cause peeling wallpaper. Dust mites and other allergens love high humidity conditions to spread spores. Many types of insects seek out humid conditions to thrive.

One of the biggest concerns with a humid home is the proliferation of mold and mildew. If there is more than 60 percent humidity in the house the conditions are ripe for mold to grow. Mold can attach to and grow on any number of surfaces. It spreads well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabrics, and upholstery. The Institute of Medicine has found sufficient evidence to link exposure to damp indoor environments in general to upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people and with asthma symptoms in people with asthma.

Controlling Humidity

Homeowners can determine humidity levels and help regulate it by first purchasing a hygrometer. This is an inexpensive meter found at most hardware stores. Go from room to room to determine areas that have improper humidity levels.

High humidity can be remedied by some methods:

• Move plants outside.
• Avoid aquariums or other water features inside.
• Check for and remedy pooling of water around the foundation of the home.
• Open windows frequently to ventilate rooms.
• Consider purchasing one or more dehumidifiers to run in troublesome rooms.

If low humidity is the problem, consider these options.

• Have a variety of houseplants around inside.
• Consider a fish tank as a focal point and a source of evaporating water.
• Consult with an HVAC professional to see if a humidifier can be added to the heating and cooling unit in the home.
• Use room humidifiers to moisten the air.
• Hang clothing and towels indoors to dry.
• The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Company states that warm air is able to hold more moisture than cold air, which is one reason humidity levels often fall during the winter months. So try to keep the temperature indoors on the warmer side.
• Open up the windows on days when the relative humidity is higher.