With frosty temperatures coming fast, you need to prepare your home for comfort on the inside. It’s time to bundle up in layers, bust out the hot cocoa mix, and turn up the heat. But have you ever considered the ideal humidity for your home in winter?
Managing humidity levels can improve indoor air quality in winter, so you don’t have to worry about the adverse effects of winter humidity. That said, finding the perfect balance in humidity isn’t easy.
Here, you will learn everything you need to know about handling home humidity in winter.
Why Is Home Humidity Important?
Keeping an eye on humidity levels will help you prevent issues from too high or too low humidity. In the summer, you run the risk of too high humidity, which may lead to mold growth or blistering paint. In the winter, you run the risk of too low humidity when you’re cranking the heat, which may lead to dry skin or brittle hair.
Many people don’t factor in humidity during the cold months, but it’s just as important to manage at this time of year. If you overcorrect the humidity level, you will even see mold growth, which will thrive in a toasty home. Mold spores will then release and impact the quality of the air you and your family breathe in.
To improve indoor air quality, you’ll want to find the ideal humidity level for your home.
What Is the Ideal Humidity for Your Home in Winter?
The ideal home humidity is between 35 and 50 percent. Anything higher than 50 percent will encourage mold growth, and you’ll start to feel clammy. In general, you should keep humidity levels about half as high as the temperature you keep your house at.
You don’t need to keep the humidity at a percentage more precise than that. It’s up to you to find the right amount within that range, based on how you feel while living in it.
If the temperatures outside go low, and you see moisture on your windows, you should decrease the humidity level. If you don’t, you run the risk of that moisture freezing.
To manage your levels precisely, you should invest in a humidifier or dehumidifier, if your HVAC system doesn’t come with humidity control. This will help you measure the relative humidity and adjust accordingly.
Whenever the seasons change, you should check up on your HVAC system. You want to avoid heading into a heavy winter only to have your heating system break down due to a lack of maintenance. If something seems off, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local HVAC company, so they can take a look before the temperatures change.
Pay Attention to Humidity Year-Round
Finding the ideal humidity for your home in winter is important, but you don’t want to write off the importance of humidity in the warmer seasons. If you pay attention to indoor air quality, humidity levels, and temperatures year-round, you’ll start down the path to healthier living. Make sure you consistently check up on your HVAC system, too, since it plays a vital role in maintaining your quality of life.
Looking for more tips and tricks to healthy living? Check out our blog that covers everything from home and lifestyle to fitness and beyond.
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