What should humidity be in the house

The warmth from your heating system will help speed this process along. You can use decorative vases or vessels that add to the decor of the room, and even include citrus peels, vanilla or essential oils to provide a pleasant scent while you humidify the room. Alternatively, boil a pan of water on the stovetop to add humidity a little faster. Just remember to turn off the stove when the water has evaporated.

Hang dry your laundry. Forgoing the clothes dryer and hanging up laundry inside means that all the moisture will evaporate into the air of your house. Use your shower steam. Any time you take a bath or shower, some steam is released into the air.

You could even use a stand-up fan to blow the moist air into the rest of the house. So, after a bath, resist pulling the plug immediately. Upgrade doors, windows and weatherstripping. In the winter, inefficient doors and windows leak out heat and moisture.

This means energy costs increase and the home environment is less comfortable. Mitigate this heat and humidity loss by installing newer, more efficient windows and doors. Install a humidifier. Perhaps one of the easiest solutions for controlling the house humidity in winter is to use a humidifier. You can buy a smaller, portable unit that works in a small area or have professionals install a whole-home system. The dehumidifier will work with your air conditioning system to pull excess water from the air before it is sent through the air ducts in your home.

Or, if you are having a new system installed, it is a good idea to add a dehumidifier simultaneously. With this option, you will be able to manage both temperature and humidity levels in your home at the same time.

Alternatively, you can purchase a stand-alone dehumidifier and manage the humidity level using a manual humidity level indicator. This will require you to monitor humidity levels ongoing and run the appliance when you need it.

The benefits will be added comfort and more energy efficiency. Any unpleasant effects of high humidity will be reduced as well. In the winter, low humidity becomes the primary problem in many homes as cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air.

When your furnace is active for months, humidity has the opposite effect than in the summer heat. A dramatic drop in moisture levels can make your living area feel cooler than your thermostat reading.

Problems that arise in the home can include discomforts from dry skin, dry nasal passages, irritated eyes, and aggravated sinuses — even damage to furniture and flooring. Your furnace or heat pump may be using a high amount of energy to run and still not provide the warmth you need in the colder months. In the winter or cold climates, a lack of moisture in the air becomes an issue that can contribute to discomfort in your living spaces.

You will want to take an opposite approach from the warm weather by adding an appropriate amount of moisture to the air with a humidifier. Like a dehumidifier, this appliance can be installed right on your system to help improve HVAC performance.

It adds moisture to air before it is forced through the ducts in your home. A stand-alone humidifier can also be purchased to add humidification to the home. Depending on the size of the appliance and the size of your home, you may need multiple units in different rooms of the house to feel comfortable. To address problems in your home's humidity levels, you may need additional equipment, such as a whole-home ventilation system or a humidification system. These systems are designed to increase your home comfort and decrease your risk of humidity-related health issues.

Let's unpack the t ypes of humidifiers you can use in your home Humidifier therapy adds moisture to your air to prevent dryness. The type of humidifier depends on your preference, budget, and size of your home or area you need to add moisture.

Warm mist humidifiers boil water to create steam. This is then sprayed into the atmosphere of your room to increase the amount of moisture in the air. They are a great help if you are suffering from nasal congestion and throat irritations. Warm mist humidifiers can also be helpful with medications. When choosing a humidifier, the leading choice you need to make is between a cool-mist humidifier and a warm mist humidifier.

Cool mist humidifier benefits tend to outweigh those of the warm mist variety, and cool mist versions are typically more popular. The whole house humidifiers are built into your HVAC system and are designed to add moisture to your entire home.

While many different kinds of humidifiers are available at the store or online to be set up as a stand-alone unit, people accustomed to a dry climate all year long often outfit their ventilation and ducting system with a built-in humidifier. This usually attaches to an intake or outflow point somewhere on your ducting system usually requires professional installation. On the opposite side, a dehumidifier is going to be beneficial in the summer months.

Fewer allergies, less mold, less window fog, fewer smells, etc. Reduces risk of infections. Viruses and bacteria do not dwell in moist air. But the exact amount of humidity depends heavily on the seasons. Greater humidity levels in winters can lead to condensation issues. Optimum home humidity levels also depend on the amount of activity you perform, home design, and personal preference. Because any percentage below 30 would be too dry and anything above 60 is too humid.

One thing recommended is never to exceed the mark of 50 because it may enable bacteria growth. The primary effect of humidity is to keep you cool in summers and warm in winters. High humidity levels in the summer can lead you to sweat profusely and feeling swampy even while sitting and doing nothing.

Improper humidity levels can not only result in discomfort but also lead to a higher risk of protracting illnesses and diseases.

This is why it is imperative to maintain ideal home humidity levels. But this is not all. Proper humidity levels can help you to keep your home in top shape as well. Paintings and pictures often need the correct humidity levels to prevent them from getting damaged or swollen. In the case of damaged electric wires and cables, high humidity levels can result in arcing and short circuits.

Wooden furniture also has a chance of getting warped and damaged due to fewer humidity levels. High humidity levels mean that there is too much moisture in your home. Not only does this lead to personal discomfort, but damage to your home as well. Excessive moisture results in an environment perfect for the growth and spread of mold, mildew, and fungi.

These pollutants and contaminants result in the spread of illnesses and diseases throughout the household. The result is lower indoor quality for your family or office environment and greater spending on medical care. If members in your household have pre-existing asthma or allergy conditions, the problem can be amplified with high humidity levels. The most noticeable effect though of high humidity is a constant feeling of sogginess and swampy feeling.

There can often be condensation on walls, furniture, and windows. You may start to feel lethargic and lazy, and not want to get up and do anything. Profuse sweating is also another side effect. You may be tempted to turn on the air conditioning to resolve the issue, resulting in increased energy bills. High humidity levels can make breeding grounds for mold and fungi, low humidity levels can make conducive environments for bacteria and viruses.

Studies have shown that low humidity can affect the propagation of viruses through the air.