The Dallas-Fort Worth area is known for being humid subtropical. With hot and sticky summers, it’s natural to crave cooler, drier temperatures inside your home. But aside from temperature, how important is the level of humidity in your home? What level of humidity should your home be, if any?
Today, our team at Ellis AC is going to cover the basics of how to create a comfortable environment in your home by setting the perfect level of humidity.
When Your Home is Too Humid
Before we talk about the benefits of having moderate humidity levels in your home, we’re first going to explore what happens to houses that get too humid.
When a home is routinely above 60% relative humidity, it can cause damage to the house. And in more severe cases, it can impact your health.
Too much moisture in the air can eventually lead to mold and mildew. Mildew finds a home on surfaces like shower curtains, windowsills, and tiles. Mold tends to spread deeper into the house’s infrastructure.
Breathing in mold harms your health, and can even cause asthma in children.
Mold is cancerous for a house, and it eventually destroys the material on which it resides. This fungus eats up soft carpet and furnishings, and can even weaken your home’s ceilings and walls if not treated properly and immediately.
In order to avoid mildew and mold in your home, keep your home at a moderate humidity level.
Additionally, when a home is too humid, your HVAC system may sense that your home is warmer than it is. This will cause the HVAC to run on overdrive trying to cool down your home. This can lead to more cool air pushed out and wasted, and a higher energy bill.
When Your Home is Too Dry
On the flip side, it’s also problematic if a home is too dry. Common issues associated with a dry house are creaky hardwood floors, experiencing difficulty dislodging doors, and the wood in your frameworks can even shift. This can cause gaps where the walls meet the ceiling, letting in cold air.
The more outdoor air that’s let into your home, the higher your energy bill will be to compensate.
It’s also worth noting that it’s not healthy to live in a home that’s too dry either. You’ll notice your home is too dry if your skin gets dry and cracks, or if your family experiences nasal discomfort and/ or nosebleeds.
Experts recommend keeping the humidity level above 30%.
Health Benefits to Having a Humidifier
If your home is erring on the side of too dry, consider installing a basic humidifier. It’s said that humidifiers can help in the following ways:
- Prevent against the flu
- Reduce snoring
- Deepen your sleep
- Keep skin and hair hydrated
Fight against a home that’s too dry by installing a humidifier.
Other Ways to Improve Home’s Humidity Levels
There are multiple ways to solve the issue of a dry house. After you’ve installed a humidifier, here are some other suggestions to improve the level of humidity in your home:
Resolve leaks.
If there are any spots around your home that let in excess water, locate and repair them immediately in order to prevent the moisture level in your home from rising too high. When your home’s infrastructure becomes too moist, the roof or foundation could suffer.
Use your AC.
When you turn on your air conditioner, it removes the heat from the air– effectively removing the moisture as well.
Use a humidifier or dehumidifier.
Opposite of a humidifier, a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air. If your home suffers from air that’s too moist, a dehumidifier might do the trick.
Ventilate your home. For example, if it’s extremely humid outside– tightly secure your windows and doors to keep the dry air inside. Then continue to run your HVAC system to set a comfortable temperature and humidity.
Ellis AC is Here to Help
Finding that perfect level of humidity for your home can be a challenge– but with a little investigation and trial-and-error, it is possible to get your home to that comfortable range.
If you need any help monitoring your home’s HVAC, call a professional at Ellis AC. Our team is happy to help inspect, maintain, repair, and replace your home’s HVAC system. We’re only a phone call away. Contact us today, or call (972) 895-7498.