Home is where we spend most of our time each day, so it’s important that we feel comfortable there. A big part of that is having the ideal humidity level in the house. Martens Plumbing & Heating has expert knowledge on the topic—which we’re sharing below.
Humidity 101
If your home lacks humidity, which often happens during our cold Wisconsin winters, you and your family members can suffer from dry skin, static electricity, and an increased chance of illness.
But in summer, we face the opposite problem. As the weather gets warmer and outdoor humidity rises, occasionally the moisture in our homes can increase to uncomfortable levels. When this happens, you might feel a damp heaviness in the air. You’ll also experience that “sticky” feeling that makes you feel warmer than usual.
Finding the perfect balance doesn’t need to be difficult. The first step is identifying the ideal humidity level for your home.
Balancing Humidity Levels in Your Home
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the ideal humidity level for your home should be between 30 and 50 percent.
But how do you know when you’ve achieved that? In many cases, you’ll notice issues that will indicate a problem. For example, if your air is too dry, you’ll notice that your home’s woodwork is cracking or drying out. Your skin might feel tight and itchy. Static electricity will increase.
On the flip side, if your indoor air has too much moisture, you might notice standing condensation and dampness in the air. It’s also a breeding ground for mold and bacteria and can provide an environment in which dust mites—a strong allergen—will flourish.
If you’re unsure what the humidity level is in your home, you can use a hygrometer—a thermometer that also measures the temperature and moisture in your air.
How to Achieve Your Ideal Humidity Level
Whether your home’s humidity is too high or too low, it’s usually a simple problem to fix. Installing a whole-home humidifier or dehumidifier from Martens Plumbing is one solution. You’ll also want to check to make sure that your windows and doors are properly sealed, which ensures humidity isn’t escaping or seeping into places you wouldn’t expect.
Other simple ideas to try include:
- Line-drying laundry instead of running the dryer in the summer
- Covering pots while cooking when possible
- Keeping bedroom and bathroom doors open inside the house to encourage airflow
- Opening windows to help balance indoor humidity levels with those outdoors
Martens Plumbing Can Help
If you find your home’s humidity levels are still less than ideal after trying some of the suggestions above, give the Bryant® experts at Martens Plumbing a call at 262-363-7146. We’ll visit your home and inspect your systems to pinpoint what’s causing your humidity issue. Contact us today for information.
