Our surroundings affect us in many ways, and it starts with the air we breathe. If we don’t have the right amount of moisture, it can even cause health problems. These are just a few reasons to be monitoring the humidity levels in your home and some tips on how to get them just right.
Table of Contents
It Can Disrupt Your Sleep
Getting enough rest may sound simple, but it’s a real challenge for a lot of people. When you can’t sleep, it can be detrimental to your mood, decision-making, weight, immune system, and more. If you’re suffering from insomnia, high humidity could be interfering with your sleep cycle by elevating allergens and harmful particles in the air. Experts agree that a temperature around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3 degrees Celsius) is optimal for sleeping. As for humidity, you should be aiming for a percentage between 40 and 60.
It Can Foster Mold
There are more than 100,000 kinds of mold that could be growing in your home, making a dire impact on your health. In that case, humidity is a real danger. If you have respiratory problems, they can worsen; if you don’t have any, they can develop. Keep an eye around your home for mold colonies, especially near your water heater and possible pipe leaks. Mold doesn’t grow unless there’s too much moisture in the air, so locate the source of the problem before you proceed. You can clean up some smaller cases yourself, but if the issue is severe, you’ll need to call a mold removal specialist.
It Can Dry Out Your Sinuses
While too much humidity can circulate more allergens in the air, too little humidity can irritate your eyes, chap your lips, dehydrate your skin, make your nasal passages feel raw, and dry out your sinuses. If you’ve ever noticed that your wood flooring or furniture seems to crack during the winter when it’s dry, just imagine what it’s doing to you.
How To Correct Humidity Levels
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to monitor the humidity levels in your home. An inexpensive digital thermometer with a humidity gauge will tell you all you need to know. Keep that humidity range between 40 and 60 percent, and you shouldn’t have to worry about moisture problems. You can always purchase a humidifier or a dehumidifier. If you want to add humidity without going too far out of your way, something as simple as leaving out a bowl of water can help. Cooking can also create more humidity, as well as showering with your bathroom door open. The solutions are fairly easy. The key is to identify the problem in the first place.
