Great question! It’s July in Massachusetts so the humidity levels are always high outdoors. And outdoors is exactly where you want to keep it. According to the EPA , indoor relative humidity (RH) should ideally be between 30 and 50 percent. Maintaining ideal RH is important for both your home and your health.
Your Health
Human bodies sweat to keep cool. When the air is too humid sweat can’t evaporate so you don’t get a reprieve from the heat. That doesn’t mean your body stops sweating though. In addition to being overheated, people frequently get dehydrated in hot and humid conditions. This can result in muscle cramps, headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate and light-headedness.
High levels of moisture in homes can trigger the growth of harmful bacteria, dust mites and molds. According to the Mayo Clinic, these allergens can trigger asthma and allergy flare-ups and cause other respiratory problems.
Your Home
Too much moisture in your home can stain walls and ceilings, cause bad odors, warp wood floors and peel paint and wallpaper (and you thought only gassy grandpa could do that!). When the moisture content in plaster, joists and studs changes it causes swelling and contracting which can lead to cracks. These can lead to further structural damage and can be costly to repair.
What Can You Do?
The good news is, there are solutions! Ventilation is crucial. While you can do this by opening windows and making sure your bathroom and kitchen fans are working properly, installing air conditioning circulates cooler air throughout your home and maintains ideal humidity levels. Dehumidifiers are also effective mitigating humidity issues. Dehumidifiers reduce humidity levels, help reduce dust in your home and can also lower energy costs by helping your air conditioner work more efficiently.
Whatever your concerns may be, we are happy to find the best solution for you and your home.
Phil
You can always call on your extended family of dependable heating, cooling, and air quality experts at CPS Heating & Cooling.
Contact us anytime to set up a consultation or call us at 508-460-6691.