What is the Ideal Humidity Level in a Home?

Humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapour in the air inside your home. Having a high home humidity level often causes an unpleasant and sticky feeling on your body, so maintaining an ideal percentage is a must to stay comfortable.

A comfortable humidity level tends to be between 30%–60%. A value above 60% is considered high and is likely to make you irritable, mad, or on edge. How do you know you have high humidity levels? Here are some signs:

• Peeling wallpapers 
• Clammy skin
• Foggy windows
• Heavy and warm atmosphere
• Smell of mildew 
• Mould formation 

How Humidity Affects Home Air Quality

Humidity changes your home’s air quality due to high or low moisture levels. This increases the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals that affect your health negatively. 

When you go beyond the best level of humidity, your home becomes a breeding ground for dust mites, allergens, and bacterial growth. Constant exposure to these can lead to respiratory problems such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and throat irritation. 

Additionally, low humidity levels produce dry air that rots wood and encourages mould growth. Your eyes and skin dry fast, causing irritation, inflammation and constant scratching. A lack of moisture in the air can also put you at a higher risk of getting sick.

How Changing Seasons Affect The Air

Seasonal changes cause home’s indoor humidity to increase or decrease, which worsens air quality. The humidity level during summer exceeds the average level due to the warm climate, while the humidity level in the winter can drop as low as 10%. 

Given the inevitability of humidity and seasonal changes, it’s important to find solutions to maintain some level of comfortable consistency. 

Achieving a Desirable Home Humidity Level

• 1. Turn on the AC

It’s easier to get your humidity under control when you install and use an air conditioner! Their cooling solution removes humidity by absorbing water vapour or warm air, sending it to the cool evaporator where a coil strips the air of its moisture and drains it. 

It’s normal to frequently use the AC during summer to maintain an average home humidity level, but constant usage can cause defects. Before any damage happens, ensure regular maintenance and repair to keep your air conditioner efficient.

• 2. Open the Windows

Keep your home fresh by opening windows at least once daily. Allowing air circulation to flow dehumidifies your home and prevents water vapour from settling inside. Be sure to open windows in moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms!

• 3. Fix Leaks

Remember: water and moisture raises your home humidity level. You may have wiped down and dried all liquid on tables and counters, but your pipes could still be contributing to the humidity inside your house!

Leaky pipes allow water to escape and turn into water vapour, increasing the moisture in the air. That’s why checking your plumbing for any leaky pipes is vital. Keep an eye on stained drywalls and wet spots—they’re telltale signs of leakage.

• 4. Treat Your Humidifier Like a Friend

During winter, a humidifier is the perfect air purification solution to maintain the best humidity level for sleeping. It keeps hay fever at bay, leaving your sinuses unclogged and free in the cold season. On top of that, installing a humidifier makes your home comfortable by preventing dry air from settling in to maintain indoor air quality. 

• 5. Weatherstrip Home Drafts

With seasonal changes causing fluctuations in your home humidity level, consider weatherstripping to indoor drafts. They’re usually found on doors and windows, and covering them prevents excess humidity from entering your home.

Weatherstripping comes in different forms:

• Tension seal
• Felt
• Foam tape
• Door sweeps
• Silicone

• 6. Install a Humidity Monitor

Rather than waiting until you feel the symptoms, be proactive by installing a humidity monitor to track the moisture levels in the air. This device will keep you informed and push you to take the necessary steps when your home humidity level is off. 

Breathe Easy With LG Home Comfort

So, what is the ideal humidity level in a home?

Well, as you know, it changes depending on the season, but generally somewhere between 30% and 60% will keep you and your family feeling comfortable—maintaining that home humidity level can be easier said than done! 

Thankfully, the LG Home Comfort team offers reliable home humidity solutions! Our licensed technicians provide quality services, keeping the air inside your home comfortable throughout the year.

Contact us today for more details about what we do!