Getting the Right Humidity Levels for Your Home

Humidity plays a major role when it comes to your home’s temperature and IAQ (indoor air quality), as well as your overall comfort. And when humidity is not at suitable levels, these factors can be negatively affected. A high humidity can lead to increased temperatures, sticky or musty air, and possible respiratory problems. Too little humidity can lead to uncomfortably dry air, which can be detrimental to your health – and harm your home interior as well.

It is important Monroe homeowners have the right humidity levels for their homes. But how can this be achieved? The experts at Iceberg Heating & Cooling are here to help answer!

Before we begin, however, we must first learn how to measure your home’s current humidity levels.

How Do I Find My Home’s Humidity?

The easiest way to measure your home’s humidity is by using a hygrometer. These devices detect humidity levels in the air and show you the percentage of humidity. Generally, you’ll want your home to have about 40-60 percent humidity. Hygrometers are one of the easiest and most accurate ways to measure your home’s humidity. You can find hygrometers at almost any department store or drugstore.

After finding your home’s humidity, you may have realized you need to increase or decrease the percentage. We have provided some steps below for both increasing and decreasing humidity levels in your home.

Increasing Humidity

Place House Plants

Plants are one of the most natural ways to improve IAQ, as well as increasing humidity levels. As plants pull water from soil, water vapor is created and then produced from tiny holes in their leaves. Think of it as the plant “sweating”. If you want to increase your humidity levels naturally, then find some houseplants to place in your home.

Utilize a Humidifier

As their name suggests, humidifiers are tools that produce moisture or mist to increase your home’s humidity levels. They can be found at almost any department store and come in sizes ranging from portable to whole-home. More information about humidifiers can be found here.

Boil Water

Boiling water in a pot is a quick way to add moisture to your home. The evaporated water fills the air with moisture, provided you don’t let it escape via open doors or windows. While running your stovetop all day may not be recommended, occasionally letting some water boil while you cook or clean can help increase humidity levels. If you would like to not waste water when you boil it, use this time to boil some eggs or noodles as well!

Decreasing Humidity

Utilize Your Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Water is used in the bathroom more than anywhere else in your home. And with water usage comes higher build-ups of moisture, which is the reason why bathroom exhaust fans exist. These exhaust fans draw out moisture from the bathroom, helping to reduce humidity levels. You’ll typically find the exhaust fan switch right next to your bathroom’s light switch. However, they can also be automatic.

Ventilate Areas with Water Sources

Although the bathroom contains the most water, areas such as the kitchen and laundry room still get their fair share of moisture. And while these areas may not have designated exhaust fans, you can still manually vent these rooms by opening nearby doors or windows. Doing this prevents moisture from getting trapped in the room, which helps to reduce humidity levels.

Utilize a Dehumidifier

Being the opposite of a humidifier, dehumidifiers remove moisture from a nearby area by condensing moisture on a coil. They can be found at almost any department store and come in sizes ranging from portable to whole-home.

Use our guide to get the right humidity levels for your home. And if you require Monroe’s leading professionals to further assess your IAQ and humidity levels, contact Iceberg Heating & Cooling today! Give us a call at 734-342-3420 for quality IAQ services.