What Is the Best Indoor Relative Humidity in Winter?

Table of Content

• Most significant issues with improper humidity levels in the home
• Is the humidity in the attic supposed to be the same humidity as outdoors during the winter months?
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• How To Cut Electric Bill In All Seasons
• Measuring Natural Air Leakage
• thoughts on “What Should Humidity Be In House In Winter? (30%-60% or 35%-45%)”
• Other ways to reduce energy costs
• The Pros and Cons of Using a Vapor Barrier (Should You Use?)

You won’t have more than $10 on electric bills during the winter just because you have a lower humidifier setting on your furnace humidifier. Well, at any given temperature , there can be a maximum amount of water vapor in the air. Neither 0% nor 100% is what you should inside humidity be in the winter or in the summer for that matter. It will run your air conditioner to control the humidity level inside the house independently of temperature.

That said, there isn’t a central authority of humidity control that decides what the best level is. But air quality experts do agree on a range of acceptable humidity levels. Temperature is what we think of when we consider indoor comfort, but humidity levels matter almost as much. You’ve probably heard the term “dry heat” and how it’s more bearable than the “wet heat” of a humid environment. Many modern humidifiers distribute fine mist moisture into the air with either ultrasonic waves or fan-driven evaporation.

Most significant issues with improper humidity levels in the home

Since the air conditioner can only turn on or off 100%, to remove more moisture would be to also make it colder. Let’s say you live in Arizona and it’s never too humid. Or your home is insulated well, doesn’t have a basement, and never seems to have high-humidity days.

We support clean air for all and we know it’s possible for every single indoor space. Did you know that there is an ideal range for indoor humidity? This will ensure that the air in your home is not too dry and not too humid. When discussing indoor humidity, we’re actually discussing relative humidity. You might also want to get the smart versions of these devices.

Is the humidity in the attic supposed to be the same humidity as outdoors during the winter months?

Ideally, a home should have ahumidity level of about 45%. If it dips below 30%, it’s much too dry, and if it’s above 50%, the high humidity may start to feel uncomfortable. If your home humidity level stays around 45%, your living environment will be cleaner, safer, healthier and more comfortable. You and your family can remain comfortable this season with an appropriate winter indoor humidity range to match your surrounding climate.

In most climates, humidity levels tend to be low during the winter. High humidity levels inside a home during the winter are unusual, therefore, and usually a sign of major issues like water leaks, condensation problems and poor ventilation. Solving those issues, in addition to adding a powerful dehumidifier, should solve most humidity problems.

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Another great way to increase humidity levels throughout your home is by adding houseplants to it. One of the most obvious warning signs that you’re about to get sick is when you have a scratchy or sore throat. However, this can also be a symptom of breathing in dry air and having poor indoor air quality in general.

As you can already guess, this will help you achieve an ideal indoor temperature during winter . When there’s not enough moisture in the air, the inhabitants of the house are bound to start feeling uncomfortable. Excess moisture, on the other hand, can lead to condensation and consequently the growth of mold spores.

The heat from your furnace makes the already dry wintertime air even dryer. The more your furnace runs, the drier the indoor air will become. When the indoor air is too dry, you will often experience static electricity and dry skin. You can also have frequent bleeding in your nasal passages, chapped lips, sinus infections, and sore throats.

It’s worse when it happens inside the walls, as in the photo of the moldy interior of a wall shown in Image #3, below. If you put enough water vapor in contact with cold surfaces, this is what can happen. The moisture that is present in these wet clothes will evaporate into the air, and, in that way, increase humidity in the room. Reducing dryer usage can also save you on energy costs. As far as I’m concerned, the best hygrometers are the ones that are equipped with multiple sensors. These allow complete humidity control, letting homeowners easily adjust humidity levels around the rooms of their homes.

To understand why, you first have to understand that humidity is the percentage of water vapour in the air. Water has a specific heat capacity of 4,200 J/kg°C and dry air has a specific heat capacity of 1.012 J/kg°C. Indoor air is a mixture of mostly air and some water; if you have more water, that air will be harder to heat. There is no reason why the humidity settings should be higher in the winter vs. the summer. But if you decide to purchase one, you need to know that it will run mostly during the late spring to early fall. The fact is that dehumidifiers aren’t really intended to be used during cold winters since the coils inside them can easily freeze up.

Install a bathroom exhaust vent to remove humid air after bathing. Your HVAC system helps control the moisture level in your home, but it doesn’t have to do that job alone. Vapor barriers will keep your space dry by locking moisture out when installed in notoriously damp places, like attics, crawlspaces, and basements. That is my experience with both extremes, but it’s not just me. High or low humidity can cause all sorts of problems for your health, your home, and your property.