We’ve all had moments in which we recognized that it was too humid outside, but have you ever thought about the humidity levels in your own home? The humidity of your home greatly impacts your overall health and comfort.
Jacksonville’s humidity level averages at around 76% per day, and that high humidity level can affect your home, but having too little humidity will also negatively impact your living space. Having both too much or too little humidity can turn your cozy house into an unpleasant space.
So, what’s the optimum level of humidity for your home?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the best level of humidity for your home is between 30% and 50%. Staying between 30% and 50% will maximize your home’s comfort level and keep you from experiencing the negative effects of having too much or too little humidity. It’s crucial that you pay attention to different signs that may indicate that you have poor humidity in your home.
#1. Difficulty Breathing
Having too much or too little humidity in your home can result in many issues that will result in breathing difficulties. High humidity levels can lead to asthma symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
On top of that, high humidity means that your home has high moisture levels, and moisture promotes the growth of mold, fungus, and dust mites. All three of these unwanted invaders can cause difficulty breathing and additional health issues.
Having too little humidity will also lead to difficulty breathing. When your home’s humidity level is too low, the air will be extremely dry. Dry air will result in difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.
If you experience difficulty breathing in your home, consider checking your humidity levels.
#2. Excess Sweating
Sweating is also a common problem for those experiencing poor humidity in their homes. If your house has too much humidity, your body won’t be able to properly regulate its internal temperature. When you’re in a room with high humidity, your sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly. The moisture in the air evaporates which slows down your sweat evaporation. When your sweat doesn’t evaporate as fast, you feel hotter. High humidity results in your body having an incredibly uncomfortable internal temperature.
#3. Skin Problems
If your home has too little humidity, then you’ll likely experience cumbersome skin issues. As we mentioned earlier, too little humidity will result in the air becoming incredibly dry. Dry air often causes skin to feel cold and itchy. Dry air also dries out the mucous membranes in your body, which will result in skin issues, sore throats, and chapped lips.
#4. Wood Rot, Warping, and Cracking
Poor humidity levels can also become costly because they can rot, warp, and crack the wood in your home. High humidity levels can result in wood flooring and wooden furniture becoming rotten and infested with insects. Your wood can also expand and warp because of the excess moisture in the air.
If your air’s humidity is too low, the wood in your home will begin to shrink and crack because the air is too dry.
The poor humidity levels in your home could lead to expensive maintenance costs for your flooring and windows, and it can also damage your favorite furniture beyond repair.
#5. Trouble Falling Asleep
Both having too much or too little humidity will negatively impact your ability to fall asleep. If your bedroom has too much humidity, your body will have difficulty regulating its temperature. Your body’s ability to regulate its internal temperature directly impacts your ability to get comfortable and fall asleep. Do you ever find yourself sweating profusely under your bed covers? This could be because your bedroom has too much humidity.
Having too little humidity will also impact your ability to fall asleep. If your bedroom doesn’t have enough humidity, the air will become dry and uncomfortable. The dry air will also lead to throat irritation and coughing, both of which will keep you from having a good night’s sleep.
Contact Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning!
If you have questions or need assistance in reaching a comfortable humidity level in your home, contact Snyder Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electric! We’re here to help make your home comfortable through our expert installation and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Contact us today to receive a quote on a new HVAC system.
