What Homeowners Need to Understand About Humidity

Understanding Humidity and the Effects It Has on the Home

Keeping a home warm in the winter and cool in the summer takes more than just adjusting the thermostat. Every home behaves differently, so homeowners need to understand what makes their home less efficient and less comfortable. One of the biggest elements of indoor comfort is the humidity level, which is also one of the most misunderstood factors. 

When humidity levels are outside the comfort range, the home can be unlivable, and bills can skyrocket. Luckily, getting a grasp of how a home handles humidity is pretty easy, and there are easy ways to make corrections if the humidity levels are too high or low. Here is a quick guide from local experts to help get homeowners started. 

What’s the Deal with Humidity? 

Humidity is the level of water vapor in the air, which has huge implications for health and comfort. When air is too dry, it will sap moisture from the skin and lungs of people in the home, causing discomfort and health problems. When air is too laden with moisture, mold growth is encouraged, making the home unsafe, and the air will feel clammy and warm even with the air conditioner running. 

The ideal level for humidity in the home is between 40% and 60%. This range helps homeowners maximize comfort so they don’t have to run their AC equipment so hard to stay comfortable. However, the humidity can drop in the winter and soar in the summer, requiring homeowners to take action to get back in the right range. Two types of equipment are available to change the humidity levels in the air. 

Using Humidifiers 

Humidifiers are important tools for homes that tend to be too dry. This is most commonly a problem in the winter, especially in homes that use wood-burning stoves or fossil-fuel furnaces for heat. However, low humidity can be a problem in the summer if the air conditioner is too small for a space. When skin feels dry, and wood furniture starts to crack, humidity is too low. 

Most people recognize a humidifier as a portable unit that adjusts moisture in a single room. While these do a great job on a small scale, adjusting the humidity in a home requires more serious interventions. Whole-home humidifiers are installed along with heating and cooling equipment and adjust the humidity automatically to keep the home comfortably humid all year long. 

Using Dehumidifiers 

Dehumidifiers are used in homes that suffer from excessive humidity. In a perfect world, the air conditioner would keep humidity levels low. However, with an oversized AC unit or a well-sealed home, humidity levels can climb high enough to be amended. When mold growth or odors are a problem in the home, air-conditioned air in the summer feels clammy, humidity is too high, and a dehumidifier is probably a good idea. Like humidifiers, whole-home dehumidifiers offer the best ease of use and comfort. 

About Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning

Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning is an industry leader in indoor air quality. Their teams can design the perfect HVAC system or find the right whole-home humidifier for every home. Call today for HVAC service in Boston, MA. 

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