Here in La Habra, CA, we’ve experienced an unusually muggy summer, which brings the issue of relative humidity to the forefront. We tend to focus exclusively on air conditioning and heating when discussing your home’s comfort, but humidity levels—both high and low—can have an equally large impact. The good news is that systems exist to correct the issue: humidifiers to treat low humidity levels and dehumidifiers to treat high ones. But before you set up an installation session, it pays to understand how high and low humidity can affect your home’s comfort.
Relative Humidity
As human beings, we feel the most comfortable when relative humidity levels are between 30% and 50%. (Relative humidity measures the amount of moisture in the air as a percentage.) When it gets higher than that, the sweat won’t evaporate off of our skin, which is how our bodies naturally keep cool. Our internal temperature goes up and the air feels hotter, in addition to that gross feeling you get when the air is muggy.
When humidity drops below 30%, your skin starts to feel dry and itchy. The mucus membrane in your nose dries up as well, leading to scratchy throats and an increased risk of illnesses. That comes on top of the static electricity generated, which everyone hates and which can even damage electronic equipment in the worst cases.
How That Affects You
In addition to the decreased comfort levels that extreme humidity causes, and the higher risk of illness and infection, humidity can drastically affect your HVAC bills. The system must work harder to overcome the lowered comfort levels, especially with high humidity, which makes the whole house feel hotter. As a result, you’re paying more in monthly bills and your air conditioner is running a greater risk of repairs.
The solution is a whole-house humidifier and/or dehumidifier installed by the professionals at JC Mechanical, Inc. Call us today to make an appointment!