3 Tips for Maintaining Proper Home Humidity Levels

High Home Humidity Causing Black Mold In Bathroom

Steps to maintain home humidity are a balancing act of keeping it not too high and not too low. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends maintaining indoor humidity no lower than 30 percent and ideally no higher than 50 percent. This range is considered optimum for several reasons. Humidity below 30 percent makes the house feel colder in winter and causes overuse of the furnace, physical symptoms such as dry skin and respiratory irritation and supports the spread of certain viruses including colds and flu. Humidity above 50 percent, meanwhile, makes the house harder to cool in warm weather and triggers the growth of toxic mold year-round.

In addition to indoor sources of humidity, the relative humidity level outdoors has a strong influence, as well, and often works against efforts to keep the inside environment in the recommended range. To properly maintain home humidity, here are three key points:

Exhaust humidity. Kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms all contribute to the humidity level inside the house. These rooms should have exhaust fans sized to remove excess water vapor. Fans should exhaust humid air through dedicated ducts that extend outside, usually all the way to the roof. To avoid excessive exhaust that can depressurize the house, exhaust fan controls should incorporate a timer to turn off automatically.
Ventilate adequately. Excessive indoor humidity often results because today's energy-efficient homes are so tightly sealed that very little fresh air exchange occurs naturally. This causes air in interior rooms to stagnate as humidity from natural living activities—including cooking, bathing and simply breathing—accumulates to high levels. Adding fresh air to the house with a controlled ventilation system helps moderate indoor humidity.
Humidify when necessary. Cold air holds less water vapor so excessively low humidity often occurs during winter. A whole-house humidifier installed in your household ductwork automatically adds humidity to the entire volume of airflow circulating through your HVAC system. Controlled by a digital humidistat, exact desired humidity settings can be input for accurate indoor humidity control.

Maintaining proper humidity levels in your home is essential for creating a comfortable, healthy living environment and for protecting your property from the potential damages caused by imbalanced moisture levels. Whether it's the dryness of winter or the humidity of summer, understanding and managing your home's humidity is key.

As a leading water damage restoration and mold remediation company, Rytech Restoration is committed to helping you maintain a safe and healthy home environment. If you ever face challenges with water, fire, or mold damage, remember that our team of experts is just a call away. We specialize in addressing and resolving such issues efficiently and effectively, using the latest technology and methods.

Don't let improper humidity levels lead to bigger problems. Contact Rytech Restoration for professional advice and top-notch property damage restoration services, ensuring your home remains a safe and comfortable haven all year round.

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