3 Ways to Manage Humidity In Your Home During Winter

The humidity level inside your home affects everything from your breathing to your hardwood floors.No really, it does! As winter approaches, indoor humidity can become a concern; if your house has problems with excess humidity in the summer, you might be more likely to experience low humidity in the wintertime, too.
The ideal humidity level for your home is around 45-55%. Anything below 30% humidity is too low – your floors and moldings could crack and you may experience physical discomfort. Above 60% humidity inside your home is too high; in addition to ruining your hair, the indoor air could allow for mold growth.
What can you do to manage the humidity levels in your home this winter? Here are three easy tips from your friends at MTB Mechanical.
1. Install a Humidifier
Whole-home humidifiers are an excellent solution to persistently low humidity. Did you know that low humidity can make your skin dry and itchy and even make you more susceptible to cold and flu viruses? Having an HVAC professional install a whole-home humidifier directly within your HVAC system ensures every single room maintains a constant state of humidity. Portable humidifiers, while inexpensive, rarely cover enough space and require an exhausting amount of maintenance. Contact MTB Mechanical for a quote on a whole-home humidifier.
2. Get Some Plants
That’s right…plants! As they grow, plants release moisture through their leaves in a process known as transpiration. Grouping houseplants together can create tropical “microclimates” that keep your plants happy and the air in that room particularly moist. When you water your plants, they eventually release that water back into the surrounding environment, like the way humans sweat. It’s a slow process, but that’s exactly what you want if you’re looking to marginally increase humidity inside your home.
3. Add Some Water
If you have a radiant heating system in your home (and no clumsy pets or kids!) you can up the indoor humidity levels slightly by placing a bowl of water next to the radiator. As the hot air warms the bowl, the water will evaporate into the air, increasing the overall humidity. Of course, this low-tech method isn’t an exact science and it works on a room-by-room basis rather than solving the problem house-wide.
How can you tell if your home’s humidity is too low? Today’s digital thermostats provide humidity calibrations that are incredibly accurate. If you have a smart thermostat, you may even be able to set it to alert you when the humidity’s off.
Is a humidifier right for your home?
Contact your local HVAC experts at MTB Mechanical today to learn more.