We all pay attention to the weather channel to see what’s in the forecast, perhaps even sometimes obsessively. We look at chances of precipitation, temperature, humidity… the list goes on and on. We want to make sure we’re prepared and comfortable when we walk outside. We tend to put less thought into making sure we’re prepared for the “conditions” inside our home.
We obviously adjust the temperature inside our home to make sure we’re comfortable, but something we don’t always think about is the home’s relative humidity. Perhaps we should – your home’s humidity can be a big factor in how comfortable you and your loved ones are and how much energy you’re using to compensate.
During these warmer summer months, homes tend to be much more damp and humid than during the winter. It’s important to keep humidity levels from getting too high. High relative humidity can be damaging to your comfort, your wallet, and even your health.
High humidity can cause the home to feel warmer than it actually is, causing many homeowners to increase their use of air conditioning in the summer. This can obviously lead to higher monthly energy bills. High humidity can also promote the growth of bacteria, fungus and mold in certain areas of your home. If not properly addressed, these can lead to health problems for you and your loved ones. It can also lead to damp, musty smells in your home, which nobody is a fan of.
Proper air circulation and ventilation is the best way to combat high humidity levels in the home. Homes with central air conditioning units also tend to manage humidity levels better in the summer. Believe it or not, newer homes tend to have more high humidity problems than older homes because of their tightly sealed designs. These newer constructions keep heat and humidity enclosed inside and not able to exchange with the outside air.
Ideal in-home humidity levels should hover around 45%. Anything under 30% is too dry, over 50% is too high. You can gauge the humidity in your home with thermostat add-ons, which can be fairly cheap to purchase. If you are having high humidity problems in your home this summer and aren’t quite sure of the best way to remedy the situation, reach out to the experts at BelRed, we’re always happy to help.
