We live in Westlake, OH, which means our summers are hot and humid and our winters are cold and dry. Humidity levels—both high and low—play a huge role in our comfort levels, and can be as important as temperature control when establishing a comfortable household. You can purchase a whole-house humidifier and/or dehumidifier to correct the imbalance, but you can benefit by understanding exactly how humidity levels affect home comfort.
Relative Humidity
When we talk about humidity, we usually talk about relative humidity, which measures the ambient moisture in the air as a percentage. 100% humidity basically means rain, while 0% humidity means no moisture in the air at all (something that almost never happens on this planet). As human beings, we need the humidity to stand between 30% and 50% in order to feel comfortable.
High Humidity
When the humidity levels climb above 50%, there’s too much moisture in the air for the sweat on your skin to evaporate: your body’s natural way of keeping cool. That makes the temperature feel much hotter than it is, as well as creating that gross clammy feeling when you sweat all the time. Your air conditioner will need to work harder to make up the difference and at extreme levels, it can even damage the furnishings in your house.
Low Humidity
Low humidity tends to occur in the winter, when temperatures drop and the ambient moisture in the air drops along with it. Beyond discomfort, low humidity can also be a problem for your home during the colder months.
Excessively dry air creates an itchy, cracked feeling on your skin, and irritates your throat and sinuses (leaving you more vulnerable to sickness and disease). You tend to create more static electricity when you walk across the floor or carpet, and as with high humidity, your furnishings can really suffer from the dryness.
If you want to keep humidity levels in your home comfortable throughout the year, then Westland Heating and Air Conditioning is ready to help. Give us a call today!
