Humidity exists inside every home. While ideal indoor humidity of 30 to 55 percent offers many benefits, humidity that is too high or too low often results in reduced comfort, higher energy bills, health issues and damage to home structure and belongings. Use these tips for spotting a humidity problem in your San Jose home and avoid these adverse side effects.
Signs of Humidity Problems
Some side effects of high or low humidity are shared. For example, humidity that is too high or too low can cause asthma and allergy flare ups. Other humidity problems are opposites. High humidity during the cooling months creates sticky conditions and makes you feel warmer than the actual temperature. Dry indoor air typically during the heating months can cause chills, dry skin, itchy eyes, sore throat and more.
Damage to wood structure and furnishings manifests in swelling and warping with high humidity or drying out and cracking when humidity is too low. Toxic mold growth and condensation on windows, walls and ceilings are good indicators you have a high indoor humidity problem.
Controlling Humidity
For the best indoor air quality results, take a whole-home approach for controlling humidity. You can purchase a handheld hygrometer at your local home store to measure humidity levels room to room. Areas with poor airflow are generally going to be more problematic.
Portable humidifiers and dehumidifiers are good solutions for the attic, basement and crawl spaces. Though, consider whole-home dehumidifiers and humidifiers during the heating and cooling months respectively for complete humidity control through your home.
A daily dose of fresh outdoor air is necessary to maintain healthful indoor air quality and mitigate humidity problems. A whole-home fan installed in the ceiling is one solution. Energy-recovery ventilators are another great option that minimize the energy needed to cool and heat fresh air intake.
If you have a humidity problem in your home, contact Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical. You may also visit our website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or just give us a call at (408) 868-5500. We serve residents in South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers inthe South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of Californiaabout energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).