It’s freezing outside and you can’t wait to get inside and warm up. Even though it’s warm in your house, it might feel dry. Humidity challenges are real, especially in the Pittsburgh area, with our ever changing temperatures. How many times have you had both your heat and air conditioning on in the same day?!
You’re probably wondering: How does heat affect the humidity inside my home?
Heat is great…for heating. What you might not realize is that your furnace heats the air, but it doesn’t add moisture. Air temperature increases, relative humidity drops.
The ideal and comfortable range for indoor humidity is 30-50%. When it drops to under 20% you feel and see the effects. Those extra dry hands or that static electricity picking up when you walk across the carpet, is all due to low humidity levels.
Low humidity levels can also cause real health issues like itchy skin and eyes; aggravated respiratory issues and allergies; and even nosebleeds and sore throats. Viruses thrive in low-humidity environments.
It’s not just your body that sees the affects, low humidity affects your home and can cause cracking in wood floors and furniture and gaps in your trim and molding.
When humidity levels are consistently over 50%, you might start to see visible moisture or mold in your home on areas like windows, walls, pipes, etc. or peeling wall paper or paint. It might also be accompanied by musty odors and the general smell of something being wet. We all know that “basement smell.”
The air can even feel sticky, when it shouldn’t and allergies and asthma issues could increase.
What can you do to ensure your home humidity levels are safe?
There are various options and each one has its pros and cons. From portable units to whole-home humidifiers and on the flip side, dehumidifiers. We can assess your home and recommend appropriate solutions.
A whole-home humidifier integrates with your existing HVAC system for even distribution and it automatically ties to your thermostat. It’s low maintenance compared to a portable unit and it ensures consistent humidity levels throughout your home.
There are various types of whole-home humidifiers including:
- Bypass humidifiers (cost-effective)
- Fan-powered humidifiers (more output)
- Steam humidifiers (precise control, highest output)
While a humidifier can certainly help with dry air, you must be cautious of over-humidification which leads to condensation and potential damage. If you start to see damp spots on your wall, smell a musty order or notice drops of water forming on your window, you’ll need to pivot.
The main way to ensure safety in your home is to keep humidity below 50%. Check your ventilation systems, most importantly your bathroom fan and your kitchen exhaust, to make sure they are in working order.
You can also purchase a hygrometer at most big-box stores, which is a tool used to infer humidity by detecting changes in a substance’s properties caused by moisture absorption.
There are digital hygrometers that show comfort indicators like dry, comfort or wet; analog meters that use hair or other materials and have a needle display; and thermo hygrometers that combine humidity and temperature measurement.
Regular HVAC maintenance is key for proper airflow. At Shafer’s HVAC, we offer comprehensive indoor air quality assessments, as well as heating and cooling maintenance plans. Our experienced team can come out to measure your home’s humidity levels and recommend the right solution.
Contact us today to set up an appointment.
