Your Home’s Humidity: Concerns and Solutions

Houston A/C repair experts at Richmond’s Air address all your humidity concerns and how whole house dehumidifiers can help

When it comes to climate control in our homes, we usually think about making sure the room temperature is cool enough (or warm enough during those occasional Houston cold snaps) to our liking.

While room temperature is a pivotal factor in our comfort, there’s another dynamic at play we sometimes forget about: humidity. Besides factoring into our comfort, less than ideal humidity levels can cause property damage and even health problems.  

Here we’ll highlight some common concerns that occur when indoor humidity levels get out of whack, and how to fix them. 

Ideal Indoor Humidity

First, it’s important to know that while you can keep your home as cool or as warm as you like, there is an ideal humidity level for your home – and that level is between 40 and 50% during most of the year here in southeast Texas.

For a comparison, the average outdoor relative humidity in Houston ranges between 49% in the winter and a whopping 92% in steamy July. Needless to say, when humidity levels are this high outside, they can affect your indoor environment too.

Problems Caused By Unsuitable Humidity Levels

When humidity levels surpass fifty percent in your home, it can become a problem. The increased humidity allows for dust mites to thrive and provides an optimal growing environment for molds and mildews. Excess humidity can also threaten the health of individuals or families with allergies and asthma.

Conversely, when the humidity dips below 40-30%, your family can suffer from dry and bloody noses, itchy skin and irritated eyes. This low humidity can also negatively affect any woodwork in your home, from furniture to trim, causing it to become brittle and potentially crack from drying out.  

When You Need More than Just A/C

Luckily, as we cool our homes with air conditioners, our A/C systems are also busy dehumidifying the air. But there are some circumstances where your comfort level and the dehumidifying capabilities of an A/C unit just aren’t in sync:

• You’re in a New Home: Some newer, tightly built homes are so efficient that they don’t gain heat during the day like older homes, meaning the A/C cycles less often. Unfortunately, the humidity of the house can still climb. This results in a homeowner turning on the air conditioner just to get rid of that sticky feeling, making the house too cold. One solution can be a whole house dehumidifier, which is tied into the central air duct system but can operate independently of the A/C to lower humidity.
• The Weather’s So Nice: A dehumidifier can also work during times of the year when the weather is just so pleasant that you don’t want to run the air or heat. While this weather can feel great, humidity in your home can still climb above an acceptable limit. Dehumidifiers can cut your concern about shutting off the air.
• Your Heater is Drying You Out: Another problem that can occur in the winter when your furnace or heater runs so much is it lowers your home’s humidity to below 30%, leading to nose bleeds and stuffiness. If this is the case, you may need to install a whole house humidifier to work alongside your heating system by adding moisture back into the air.

The experts at Richmond’s Air understand that climate control means more than regulating the temperature; the humidity of your home can have a big impact too. We’re here to help you find the best comfort solutions for your home and needs.

If you’re in the greater Houston area, including Katy, Spring and Bellaire, contact us today to setup a home visit.