Why You Need Whole-House Humidity Control

Everyone knows temperature plays a vital role in comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ).

You automatically adjust your furnace or heating system when the weather gets chilly. And the air conditioner tends to be center stage in the heat of the summer.

However, it’s essential to realize humidity levels play just as much a leading role in your Alabama home.

Western Sales & Services wants to help you understand humidity levels and how to control them for improved comfort and better overall health. You can count on our team for all your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services.

What Is Humidity?

Humidity measures the amount of moisture in the air. Most people associate dryness with winter; that’s a function of humidity. In some areas of the country, summers can be hot and humid.

What is the relative humidity in your Birmingham home? Relative humidity is a measure of both temperature and moisture. It’s more important to understand relative humidity if you want to adjust your home’s comfort level.

What Happens at High Humidity?

If your home’s relative humidity exceeds 60 percent, you may start experiencing some indoor air problems. Mold begins to grow at this humidity level and accelerates its growth between 70 and 90 percent relative humidity.

Furthermore, you can experience condensation on your windows and walls, leading to long-term structural weakening and damage to your home. Moisture encourages mold growth and can attract pests and contribute to other allergen problems.

Finally, high humidity can negatively affect human health by increasing the likelihood of heat stroke, heart problems, or asthma.

What Happens at Low Humidity?

On the flip side, too low relative humidity levels can cause other indoor air issues. Static electricity can be annoying, and things like dry skin and lips are uncomfortable. Dry air can aggravate common colds with scratchy throats and nasal discomfort.

Your indoor environment can feel colder as well, with dry air.

Additionally, humidity levels that are too low can harm wood furniture and musical instruments. Wood floors or wall paneling may shrink, warp and wallpaper may begin peeling.

How Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers Can Help

To calculate your relative humidity, you can use a relatively inexpensive tool called a hygrometer that you can find at your neighborhood hardware store.

According to the Mayo Clinic, your home needs to remain between 30 and 50 percent relative humidity for optimal comfort and health.

While your HVAC system can affect humidity to some degree, investing in a whole-house humidifier and dehumidifier can be beneficial.

Today’s humidifiers are well-designed and use sensors and computers to maintain humidity at around 45 percent automatically. Furthermore, modern humidifiers can prevent microbial growth and use drain-through technology, so they do not hold standing water when they are off.

Although a well-maintained air conditioner can remove humidity and heat from your home, you can install an additional dehumidifier to your HVAC system. A dehumidifier will remove further moisture before the air circulates through your ductwork.

In addition, you can also purchase portable humidifiers or dehumidifiers for single-room or single-area usage.

Contact Us Today

If you want to improve your home’s comfort and humidity levels, schedule an appointment with Western Sales & Services in Birmingham, AL. Our professional team can help you find the best HVAC solutions. Call us today at 205-787-8674 or request service online.