How Does Humidity Affect You and Your Home

When the air inside your home is either too moist or too dry, you feel it. Moist air feels clammy and sticky, and dry air leaves you reaching for hydration. So, your level of comfort is affected by humidity. However, you aren’t the only one affected by the levels of humidity in your home. Too much or too little humidity can cause a host of structural and indoor air quality issues, as well. That’s why it’s important to control the level of humidity within your home, and keep it within a desirable range.

Here in Florida, high humidity can be a problem, especially in the steamy summer months. High humidity levels produce fogged windows, musty odor and/or a clammy feel to the air. During cooler weather, condensation on inside windows is common. If the humidity in your home is too high, you’ll probably have more window condensation.

Humidity is defined as vaporized water in the air. The term used to define the amount of water vapor in the air is “relative humidity.” The human body is most comfortable when relative humidity is between 40% and 60%. In your home, an average relative humidity of 50% is ideal for Northeast Florida. During cooler weather, higher humidity ranges may cause structural damage because of condensation on windows and on the inside of exterior walls. As outdoor temperatures fall, condensation problems inside the home may develop.

The construction of a home also influences indoor humidity. Tightly constructed buildings retain more heat and moisture. This is where mechanical ventilation becomes important. If a home does not have the proper mechanical ventilation, excess water vapor can move through walls and ceilings, causing wet insulation, peeling paint, and mold on walls and woodwork.

During summer when outdoor humidity is high, your house and its furnishings naturally absorb some water vapor. In fall, when temperatures drop and the air becomes drier, this water vapor is released into the living space and condensation on windows may occur.

To avoid the problems caused by high humidity, we usually recommend an A/C checkup, and possibly a whole-house dehumidifier. It operates in tandem with your central air conditioner to reduce mold and mildew, improve indoor air quality, extend the life of your A/C and help control your energy bills. Drier air provides greater comfort at higher temperatures, so homeowners can raise the setting on their central air conditioners, reducing their energy use.

Ask us about ways that you can keep humidity at optimum levels in your home. It’s one of the best ways to improve your comfort, keep your indoor air healthy, extend the life of your HVAC equipment and maintain your home’s structural integrity.


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