For a large percentage of people, summer is described as hot and humid. For those lucky enough to have an air conditioner, you may have it on, blasting, for the majority of the day. But have you ever wondered what the humidity in your house is with your air conditioner running? Overall, your home may feel cool and refreshing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your home’s humidity levels are low.
What is humidity, and how does it work?
To understand humidity, you first need to understand the two different ways humidity can be measured.
Relative humidity (RH) measures the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the total amount of vapor at its current temperature. The rate of RH changes as the temperature changes with the indoor air. Luckily, humidity control exists and can ensure you and your family stay comfortable and cool this summer.
What we feel outside is the amount of moisture, or absolute humidity, in the air. Absolute humidity measures how much water vapor is in the air, regardless of the temperature.
Moisture moves naturally from a location of high vapor pressure to one of low vapor pressure. In colder climates, indoor air has more moisture at higher temperatures, and the direction of travel is opposite that of humid climates. In hot and humid climates, moist outdoor air diffuses through porous materials or pathways into the conditioned air.
Water vapor can enter your home from:
- Basement, foundation, or plumbing leakage
- Wall and floor cracks in the basement, foundation, and other areas in the home
- Drafty windows
- And more
If not drained and appropriately removed, this water can stay in the home for a long time. Some ways this water is absorbed and transported is through:
- Standing water around home leaks
- Liquid water absorbed by materials, such as structural material, woodwork, hardwood floors, and furnishing
- Water vapor molecules passing through pores in building material
- Air transport: water vapor in the air moved through pathways in materials due to pressure differences
How high humidity levels affect us
The reason you may feel so hot on humid days, even if the temperature is at a somewhat comfortable number, is because your body has to work harder to regulate its temperature, which means it could become more susceptible to heatstroke. If the relative humidity is high, our sweat evaporates slowly because the air is full of moisture and does not have room for more. As a result, you may have a hard time breathing and begin to sweat heavily. These effects are why it’s recommended to stay hydrated and take breaks from the heat as much as possible.
Does AC control humidity?
Although air conditioning helps cool your home’s temperature overall, it doesn’t control humidity levels. Air conditioning is controlled by the thermostat and senses temperature, not humidity. So, when the temperature rises above a certain point, the thermostat tells the AC to kick on. Therefore, it’s possible to have the house temperature at 72? that still feels muggy because of the high humidity levels.
What percentage of humidity should be in my home?
No matter how low your home’s temperature is set to with the AC on, the relative humidity percentages should always stay between 45 and 55 percent. Anything that is higher than 55% can lead to issues such as mold growth. Mold can cause or irritate health issues. It’s imperative to regularly check your home’s air quality to catch any problems that could become disastrous. Aggravated asthma & allergies will become elevated, and bacteria, viruses, and pests may grow strong in humidity outside that range.
How can I keep my home healthy this summer?
Half of the air you breathe in your home comes from either the crawl space or basement, which means you could be breathing in the dirt, mildew, dust that lives there. Humidity can cause mold growth and damage the structure of your home. Mold thrives the best when the relative humidity is above 70% and the warm outdoor air mixes with cooler surfaces.
An excellent solution for this problem is to install a dehumidifier for those high-humidity areas, like your basement or below-grade space. A dehumidifier is built to maintain the ideal relative humidity (RH), which improves the air quality in your entire home. Installing one will stop the growth of mold and eliminate musty odors.
A great option to measure the humidity levels in your home is to purchase a hygrometer. Hygrometers are instruments made to measure the amount of water vapor in the air or confined spaces. There is no need to spend over no more than $30 for indoor air monitoring. These devices can be digital if you prefer, or there are ones that look similar to scales.
Keep your home moisture-free with a dehumidifier installation!
Stay healthy and cool this summer by measuring your home’s humidity level. Consider getting a dehumidifier to help prevent any humidity issues. Your indoor comfort is important all year round, and since you have a better understanding of how humidity works, it’s time to act on it. Find your local basement dehumidifier contractor today for more information!
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