Excessive humidity in a house is just as bad as a level of humidity too low. It is important to maintain an appropriate level of humidity for the human body to feel comfortable, and to prevent structural damage to your house, as well as cause damage to electronic equipment, cameras, books, pianos, and many more of your prizes possessions.
Excessive humidity in the house can have different causes. In some areas outdoor humidity is higher in the summer, naturally your house will at this time be more humid, but this might be a temporary situation. Similarly in the fall when temperatures outside decrease, the air is drier, you might see some condensation on your windows indicating that the humidity in your home is a little higher. This may also be self-correcting after a short time. A good level of humidity in the house is not a set number but varies with outside temperature. Refer to the chart below for an approximate number.
How can you tell whether your home humidity is sufficiently serious for you to use a dehumidifier?
If you experience some or all the symptoms below, you might have to consider some measures to improve your air quality.
- Stuffiness
- Fequent headaches
- Frequent chest colds
- Mold or mildew in the house
- Lingering odors or a musty smell in the house
- Frequent condensation on windows, sometimes even frost
These signs are indicative that you should consider a solution to improve the air you breathe. Simple measures like opening the windows can make a big difference, but it is not always practical.
- Using a range hood over the cooking area can greatly reduce the humidity released in the house by cooking.
- If you live in a colder climate, you might consider an air-to-air heat exchanger to mechanically ventilate your house.
- Clean or replace your furnace filters as needed and as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Consider using an electronic furnace filter, these are more efficient than conventional filters.
These measures will not only improve the air in your house but will also save energy and reduce your utility bills. For even more savings you might consider you might consider checking how heat is lost. Usually houses lose heat through the roof, windows, or floors. Adding insulation, vapor barriers, caulk or weatherstripping to your home. Heat and cooling will be more efficient, and the quality of indoor air will be maintained as the house will be subjected to less air infiltration from outside.
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