This Is the Ideal Humidity Level for a Comfortable Home, According to Pros
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When the humidity levels in a home are too high or too low, it can lead to a variety of problems, including mold growth, dust mites, and more. With this in mind, it's important to find out how to check the humidity level in the home and determine the ideal humidity.
Use this guide to learn more about indoor humidity and how to choose the ideal humidity level in a home for comfort.
What Is Humidity?
In general, humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air.
Absolute humidity is a measurement of the literal amount of mass that the moisture has in the air around you. To find the absolute humidity of an area, you divide the mass of water in the air by the mass of air in the area. This metric is typically expressed as grams of moisture per cubic meter of air (g/m³). However, it's not necessary to know the absolute humidity of the home.
Relative humidity is the most important measurement when determining the ideal humidity level for the home. Instead of measuring the literal amount of mass that the moisture has in the air, relative humidity measures the level of moisture in the air and expresses this result as a percentage based on how moist the air could be at its maximum humidity level. This means that if the home has a humidity level of 50 percent, the air is currently about 50 percent as moist as it could be.
Ideal Humidity Level for a Home
The ideal humidity level for the home depends on the personal preferences; different people will feel more comfortable at different humidity levels. However, a humidity level that falls between 30 to 50 percent is considered the most comfortable for the average person. Beyond this broad range, it's up to the homeowner and residents to narrow down the perfect setting.
Problems Caused by Low Humidity
When the humidity level drops below 30 percent, the air can become uncomfortable to breathe. These dry conditions can also dry out the wooden floorboards, wood furniture, cabinetry, tables, doors, window frames, and more, causing the wood to crack. Cold spots become more common when the humidity levels are lower, though this may be a result of a faulty furnace, clogged ductwork, or drafty windows.
Problems Caused by High Humidity
Normal humidity levels in the home should fall between 30 to 50 percent. The excess moisture seeps into the walls, floors, and ceilings, creating ideal living conditions for dust mists, mold, and mildew. If the high humidity continues for an extended period of time, it may also cause the paint or wallpaper to peel.
How to Test Home Humidity
There are several ways to check the humidity in a home, including a hygrometer, thermostat, humidistat, and the home humidifier or dehumidifier.
Hygrometers are a basic tool that can be used to check the relative humidity in the home. These devices are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. You can even find hygrometers that can be mounted in the home to provide a consistent measurement of the ambient humidity.
Thermostats are already used to monitor the air temperature throughout the home, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to find out that many thermostats will also monitor and display the indoor humidity level.
Humidistats are similar to hygrometers in that they are designed to monitor the humidity levels in a given area, but a humidistat is also typically able to control the humidity level for any integrated devices or appliances, like the furnace.
Humidifiers or dehumidifiers will generally display the current humidity level in the area and will also usually have a built-in humidistat to control the output for the appliance.
How to Increase Humidity Levels
Increasing the humidity level indoors for a short period of time isn't difficult, but if low humidity is a constant problem, then the easiest solution is to invest in a whole-home humidifier. Before purchasing and installing a whole-home humidifier, consider these alternative methods for increasing humidity.
Portable humidifiers can work well for small homes or single rooms. The appliance will gradually increase the humidity levels in a small area, making them ideal for home offices, dens, and bedrooms.
Release moisture into the air by simmering a pot of water on the stove, leaving the door open while showering, or opening the dishwasher immediately after the final rinse cycle to let the steam and water out. If you prefer a bath, let the bathwater cool in the tub before draining in to release extra moisture into the air.
Air-drying laundry indoors will allow the moisture from the clothing, towels, and linens to seep into the air, gradually increasing the ambient humidity levels.
Invest in houseplants for the home to help with low humidity. The plants will release moisture into the air through their leaves as they grow and expand, slowly building the humidity level indoors.
Use a spray bottle to regularly mist the air about once every hour. Avoid spraying the furniture or countertops directly, as this could lead to mold growth or water damage.
Switch from a furnace to radiant heating to address constant low humidity problems. A furnace tends to remove humidity from the air while warming the home, but a radiant heating system can keep the home warm without drying out the air.
How to Decrease Humidity Levels
If high humidity is a constant problem, then investing in a whole-home dehumidifier is the most sure-fire method for fixing the issue. However, before installing a new whole-hole dehumidifier, there are a few other ways to decrease humidity levels in the home.
Replace old air conditioner units to help lower the humidity in the home. Older AC units aren't able to remove moisture as effectively as a new air conditioner, so if the existing air conditioner is over 10 years old, it may be time for an upgrade.
Take shorter showers and avoid baths to reduce the amount of moisture released into the air. The longer the water from the shower is running, the higher the humidity climbs. Similarly, a standing tub of hot water will release steam into the air, increasing the humidity.
Buy and install a bathroom exhaust fan that can remove excess moisture during and after a shower or a bath. Instead of worrying about the duration of the shower, simply turn the exhaust fan on to pull any steam up and out of the home.
Cover a dirt basement floor with a vapor barrier to decrease indoor humidity levels. Moisture in the dirt will seep into the basement air, gradually flowing into the main part of the home, but by covering the dirt floor with a vapor barrier, you can block the moisture from entering the basement.
Portable dehumidifiers are another great way to reduce humidity levels, though they are only suitable for small homes or single rooms. Just keep in mind that you will need to empty the water collection bucket every few days to prevent it from overflowing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 65% humidity too high in a house?
Most people will feel comfortable with a humidity level between 30 to 60 percent, but it's best to have an indoor humidity level between 30 to 50 percent. If the humidity is higher than 55 percent, it can create conditions indoors that help bacteria, viruses, and fungi thrive. Additionally, high humidity may contribute to mold growth and long-term water damage.
At what humidity level does mold grow?
Mold is attracted to dark, damp spaces where it can grow and spread. High humidity can create a moist environment that is ideal for mold growth, so it's important to keep the humidity level below 55 percent. Just keep in mind that even if the humidity level is less than 55 percent, mold may still occur if there are any leaks or condensation issues.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
