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Dehumidifiers work by drawing in humid air, cooling it to condense moisture, and then releasing it back into the environment at a lower humidity level. Adequate ventilation can help control a home’s humidity level, impacting health and a home’s structural integrity. If there are high humidity levels in a home, poor ventilation can be to blame.
What Is The Best Humidity Level For A Home?
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You’ll also want to avoid placing it near doors and windows to ensure the reading isn’t skewed by rain, sunlight, or other weather conditions. 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. When the humidity level drops below 30 percent, the air can become uncomfortable to breathe.
Indoor Humidity FAQ
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Here’s a look at five top-rated humidifiers from Consumer Reports’ tests, one for each size we test, listed from small to larger. Joshua Thompson entered the HVAC industry at age 16 and has spent the two decades since then becoming an expert in the field. He currently works in research and development, providing product and technical support for a team of roughly 75 field technicians and support staff. His career has involved extensive experience in HVAC service, installation, field team management, product development, technical training, load calculations, and system design.
There is an ideal humidity for health and comfort
Early plumbing leak detection could help prevent water damage, musty smells, and potential mold growth. The most common causes of high humidity in a home are poor ventilation and malfunctioning HVAC systems. Wet areas, such as bathrooms, require adequate aeration to avoid moisture buildup. Exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, and an operational air conditioner will help eliminate the issue. You may be more susceptible to hay fever and allergies because dust mites thrive in high humidity.
Doing so goes a long way toward minimizing allergens, so you can breathe easy. This lets steam escape and fill other rooms with much-needed moisture. If you typically use a bathroom exhaust fan to wick away humidity, turn it off in winter. And if you prefer baths, don’t drain the water immediately after use; let it sit and cool naturally instead.
Signs and Dangers of Low Indoor Humidity
Some parts of the country are more prone to high humidity than others, and inside humidity levels tend to be higher in regions with muggy climates. ” the EPA offers recommendations on indoor humidity levels relative to outdoor temperatures for reference. If your home remains in this range for an extended period, you’ll notice mold and mildew growth, an increase in indoor airborne allergens, and potentially severe health side effects. A humidity level of 60% isn’t great, but it’s not horrible, either.
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Basements with water intrusion issues may be an exception to this rule. The ideal indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 50%, but this doesn’t mean you must rush out and buy a humidifier if you’re reading 51% at specific points of the year. I typically advise my clients that intervention is necessary when indoor RH levels exceed 60% for more than brief periods. Portable humidifiers are also available to add moisture to individual rooms.
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Indoor humidity measures the water vapor floating in the air throughout your home. Humidity levels impact your everyday life by affecting your health, your sleep, and your home’s structural integrity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agrees indoor relative humidity should be below 60% and between 30% and 50% ideally, but achieving this may be tricky. We’ll cover the signs of low and high indoor humidity, why these levels can be dangerous, and how to achieve an ideal indoor relative humidity. Ventilation systems are suitable for high-humidity regions and provide a controlled, filtered, and tempered air exchange between your house and the outdoors. Unlike standard ventilation options, ERVs and HRVs remove humidity from the incoming fresh air, so it’s possible to ventilate effectively even during high outdoor humidity conditions.
Average Relative Humidity
Having old insulation replaced, especially in the attic and basement, could be the key to eliminating excess moisture in the air. If it isn’t possible to completely replace the home’s insulation, caulking or sealing windows throughout the home can be another effective way to restore the home to a more ideal inside humidity level. If your thermostat is from the Dark Ages and won’t show your indoor humidity, don’t fret!
Whole-house humidifier installation costs vary based on several factors, but the national average is around $2,250. Typically, homeowners can expect to spend between $900 and $3,600 on a professional whole-house humidifier installation. Achieving ideal indoor humidity levels will benefit your health and sleep while maintaining your home’s structural integrity. You can take several steps to increase or decrease your home’s humidity levels, but you need to determine how dry or damp your indoor air is first. High humidity levels can cause discomfort and health issues, and excessive humidity can even cause damage in a home.
That is primarily considered an outdated suggestion, thanks to current research. Tobie Stanger is a senior editor at Consumer Reports, where she has been helping readers shop wisely, save money, and avoid scams for more than 30 years. During off-hours, she works on her own fixer-upper and gets her hands dirty in the garden.
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