It’s no secret that Florida has a humid climate. But the high level of moisture in the air outside shouldn’t be welcome inside of your home.
That doesn’t mean that humidity is a bad thing. Like most things in life, moderation is the key to healthy living.
So what is the best indoor humidity level and why should you care? Before we reveal the perfect humidity percentage, let’s dive in and discover what happens when humidity levels go wild.
High Indoor Humidity Level Problems
When humidity is too high indoors, it can:
- Negatively affect our health
- Reduce indoor air quality
- Lead to mold, bacteria, and mildew growth
- Cause water damage to your buildings’ materials and furnishings
- Rott wood
A higher indoor humidity level also makes us feel hotter. In turn, we crank down the thermostat and use more electricity. If your air conditioner is running efficiently, it should dehumidify your indoor air sufficiently, but sometimes it needs extra help.
If your home is poorly insulated, the humidity outdoors can seep in faster than your AC can handle. You also inadvertently add moisture to the air by cooking, bathing, and doing laundry.
Low Indoor Humidity Level Problems
Unfortunately, buying a dehumidifier and running it on high doesn’t solve all of our problems. If you remove too much water from your air, you can stir up an equal amount of trouble.
It’s necessary to control the moisture level in our air and maintain a healthy balance because low humidity can be just as bad as high humidity.
If the humidity in your home is too low, you can experience:
- Thirst and dry mouth
- Sinus irritation and nose bleeds
- Dry itchy skin
- Warped or cracked building materials
- Thriving viruses
- Increased allergens in the air
So if high humidity and low humidity are bad, what is the best indoor humidity level?
The Best Indoor Humidity Level
It may be necessary to monitor your humidity levels with a hygrometer, often marketed as a humidity meter or gauge. You will want it to read between 50% and 60% humidity. You do not want it to exceed sixty percent.
When we discuss the percentages of humidity in the air, we are referring to relative humidity, not absolute humidity. It’s important that you understand the difference.
Relative Humidity vs. Absolute Humidity
Humidity is measured in two different ways: relative and absolute.
Absolute humidity is expressed as g/m3 and is the amount of water vapor in the air. It’s measured by determining the mass of water vapor and the volume of the air. The absolute humidity level will always remain the same regardless of the temperature.
In contrast, relative humidity greatly depends on temperature. It’s this relationship with the temperature that is measured and expressed as a percentage of the total amount of water vapor in the air.
Checking Your Indoor Humidity Level
When you check if you have the best indoor humidity level in your home, you will be reading the relative humidity percentage.
Remember that if the absolute humidity remains the same, the relative humidity in a room will increase as the room becomes cooler and decrease as the room becomes hotter. This is important because relative humidity will remain lower when your house is hot and increase when you run an inefficient AC that cools your home without sufficiently dehumidifying it.
The Best Indoor Humidity Level Experts In Tampa, Florida
If your AC is struggling to dehumidify your home, it isn’t just uncomfortable, it can lead to mold growth inside vents! When microorganisms find refuge in your ductwork, they also circulate through your home where they can be breathed in by you and your family.
By maintaining your air conditioner and receiving biannual AC checkups with Action Air Conditioning, you ensure that your cooling system is running the way it should be.
If your unit is too old to work too old to work efficiently, you may need a dehumidifier or an AC replacement. When you need a new cooling unit, visit Action Air Conditioning’s showroom to view one of the largest selections in the Tampa Bay area!
Our friendly and informative team can help you to decide what system is right for your home and your budget. Then our technicians will bring it right to your door and professionally install it for you.
Contact us now to find out how we can help you!