The ideal range of home humidity is 30 to 50 percent. In the Twin Cities metro area, with its cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers, your home may fall below the ideal range during cold weather and rise above it in warmer weather.
Low Humidity
In the winter, dry air in your home can result in damage to your belongings and your health.
- It makes it easier for you to become infected with viruses, which stay airborne longer due to the rapid evaporation
of moisture surrounding the virus. - It dries out your nasal passages, reducing the production of mucous that helps expel viruses before they can infect you. Tiny cracks form, creating an ideal entry point for viruses. It also causes dry, itchy skin and chapped lips.
- It can exacerbate allergies and trigger asthma symptoms, as well as worsen eczema.
- It causes static electricity, which, in addition to being annoying, can damage your electronic devices.
- It can dry out and damage the wood in your home, from floors and molding to musical instruments, and cause your paint to peel.
- It makes the air feel colder, and energy costs can increase as a result of turning up the thermostat.
High Humidity
In the summer, high humidity can do just as much damage as the dry air in the winter, though of a different type.
- It can promote the growth of mold and mildew in your home, creating a health hazard and triggering allergies and asthma attacks.
- Dust mites, highly allergenic, microscopic arachnids, thrive in high humidity.
- It makes your home feel warmer, and energy costs can increase as a result of turning down the thermostat.
- It can warp your wood floors, damage your carpets, and cause musty odors in your home.
Controlling Home Humidity
You can control the humidity in your home with humidifiers and dehumidifiers, both of which are available as portable, stand-alone units or as whole-house units that are built into your HVAC system.
For more information about how you can control home humidity year round, please feel free to contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home humidity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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