The winter months bring cold, dry air to Chicagoland. While all homeowners know to monitor their thermostats to fight off the cold, many might not be as particular about defending their home against dry air.
At Maertin Heating & Cooling, we know that relative humidity isn’t something the average homeowner tracks. And even if you do track your home’s relative humidity—the amount of water vapor in the air—you are probably more concerned about too much moisture rather than too little.
Humidity presents real problems for homes and homeowners because moisture can build up and support mold growth. For this reason, we recommend your home not exceed 60% relative humidity. But a lot of homeowners don’t realize that we also recommend you keep your house above 30% relative humidity. A moderate relative humidity keeps your skin from drying out, lowers the risk of nose bleeds and stunts the spread of airborne germs. A slightly humid environment also prevents wood in your home from warping and cracking and cuts down electrostatic build-up. Your coffee table, kitchen cabinets and wood floors will last longer and you’ll rarely get shocked reaching for the lamp.
Homeowners face a variation of Goldilocks’ dilemma, constantly striving for a home that’s neither too moist nor too dry. In a bit of a twist, new homes focus on keeping air from seeping in and out in the name of energy efficiency, making humidity management more difficult. Drafts in older homes can introduce cold, dry air into the home, shrinking wooden doors and frames enough to create even more drafts.
Your technicians at Maertin recommend that, in the summer, you combat the excess moisture from a shower by running a bathroom exhaust fan. In the winter, when your home is being warmed by dry heat, you can use some of that steam to bring up home humidity just by leaving the bathroom door open.
Houseplants can also raise the relative humidity of room. If your home is dry, consider a variety of plants in each room. If your home is constantly feeling and looking like a jungle, you could dry out your home by easing up on your horticultural efforts.
Using a dehumidifier to lower home humidity is very effective, but use care in using a humidifier to raise the humidity of your home; that moist air can get trapped and condense, allowing mold and mildew growth.
If your home is too dry or too humid, your Maertin Heating & Cooling experts can optimize your systems for energy efficiency and ventilation. Just make an appointment! You can also ask us about tools to help you track your relative humidity as regularly as you do the temperature.