Your home’s humidity level is just as important as the indoor temperature and actually impacts it. Humidity affects comfort, overall health, and even the air quality. Whether there is too much or too little humidity, health and home can be affected, so balance is key. Consider how installing the right equipment in your Corpus Christi home will help you to balance that tricky humidity level.
What is Humidity?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. The higher the moisture content, the warmer your home feels. High indoor humidity can naturally help to heat a room, but it is unwelcome during those hot Texas days and nights when you are struggling to keep your home comfortable and save energy. Low humidity, on the other hand, means the moisture content is very low. Too little makes the air feel dry and uncomfortable.
Various conditions in your home impact the humidity level. It is important to manage these levels so that you can optimize your indoor air quality.
How Low Humidity Affects Your Health
Low humidity means the air is too dry. This, in turn, dries out your eyes, nose, and makes your throat dry and itchy. The linings of your mouth, nose, and throat rely on mucus to stay moist. When the moisture in the air is low, as you get in a low humidity environment, the mucus dries up. With the mucus linings dry, your body has a hard time removing germs that lead to illnesses such as the flu and upper and respiratory infections. The irritation brought on by dry mucus membranes causes nosebleeds and dry coughs.
Low humidity can also make your skin extra dry and lead to rashes and infections. Poor air quality due to low humidity tends to increase odors in the home and is the very root of static electricity problems.
What is High Humidity?
When the moisture content of the air inside your home is too high several problems can develop. The high moisture levels make your home stuffy and uncomfortable. It can make breathing difficult, and also create challenges for those with respiratory problems and certain other illnesses.
Certain species of mold release mycotoxins into the air that can cause neurological damage, but even a small amount of mold can trigger allergies. When it comes to air quality, mold growth can potentially lead to respiratory diseases as well.
The excess moisture causes condensation throughout the home. These damp conditions create the perfect environment for mold growth. Typically-affected places include walls and window frames. However, mold can also develop in drywall and insulation.
Regulating Moisture Content
When the air is too dry, a humidifier can make the world of difference. Portable humidifiers are ideal for small areas. Whole-home versions treat the entire home. A fan-powered humidifier will blow moisture into the ducts to create proper humidity in every room. These devices do more than increase the humidity — they monitor it. This keeps the level in your home balanced, so it doesn’t get too dry, but it doesn’t get overly saturated, either.
On, the other hand, a dehumidifier removes the extra moisture from the air. Balancing air moisture improves your air quality naturally. Systems can be built into your HVAC unit and work in conjunction with the heating and cooling equipment to ensure the humidity levels are just right. This helps to improve the system’s efficiency and the air quality.
Use a hygrometer to measure and help you monitor the amount of moisture in the air. Our expert technicians do an air quality assessment and make recommendations about humidity levels. Corpus Christi is generally a humid city, so some houses may benefit from a whole-home dehumidifier.
Call your reliable technicians at Bodine-Scott Air Conditioning Co. We can determine if your home needs any type of humidity management system, and what type will work best in your home. We also offer efficient installation service. If you suspect that your indoor air suffers from a moisture imbalance, let us help. Call us today at (361) 883-9900 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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