One of the least talked about but most important aspects of your comfort are humidity control. The summer humidity is way too high in our area. Humidity can cause all kinds of trouble when it is high. The solution is to maintain your levels between 40-60% year-round. Let’s look at how this humidity affects your home, your health, and ultimately your comfort. 

Some things are occurring in your home that you may not realize are caused by humidity swings. The first is as humidity rises in the summer, all the building materials and furnishings in your home absorb this moisture. This causes wood, hardwood floors, picture frames, trim and more to swell as it absorbs the excess moisture. You can see the result of the humidity swings in cracks in your trim, cracks in your hardwood, and any caulking. In addition to the swelling and shrinking of everything in your home, you can also see humidity issues in your well-being. If you suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, humidity swings can worsen your symptoms.

Humidity can also play a big part in the health of everyone living in the home. Any humidity levels higher than 50% can allow mold to grow in and around the house. This can mean in the insulation, on surfaces, or in the foundation. When this happens, the mold begins to emit spores into the air. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, these mold spores can trigger an attack that will leave you feeling sick for days.

The Center for Disease Control recommends HEPA air purifiers in all medical facilities to improve indoor air quality and reduce the chance of airborne disease spread. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states pollutant levels are 2 to 5 times higher inside the home. Therefore, in tightly sealed “modern homes,” this can be up to 10 times the pollutants found in outdoor air. Humidity and moisture in the home can also increase the chance that you will get sick. A HEPA air purifier gets rid of these pollutants, dust, pollens, and other particles from the air.

Humidity can wreak havoc on your home, your health, and your comfort. In the summer, your home’s humidity levels should be between 40-60%. If you think you might have a humidity control problem, you can call us, and we can come out and take some measurements. The best solution is a variable speed air conditioning system that acts as a dehumidifier, or we can install a whole-house dehumidifier on your existing HVAC system. As a rule of thumb, if you will need a new HVAC system soon, then just install a variable speed new system, but if your system is relatively new with no issues, then install a whole-house dehumidifier. Either way, if you think you might have a humidity issue, give us a call, and we can come out, take a look and let you know what’s going on and how to solve the problem best.

Whether you have concerns at home or in the office, Modern Air Solutions offers all kinds of air conditioning and indoor air quality solutions.  Contact our office to find out how to start breathing easier & stay comfortable today!

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