Issues caused by low relative humidity in your home

Do you get an electric shock when you touch the TV or a doorknob? Do the floors creak when you walk around the house? Those are both signs your home has low humidity.

Low relative humidity can cause the build-up of static electricity. While a shock from static electricity can surprise you, it can be powerful enough to damage your electronics! Low humidity also dries out wood. Hardwood floors, panelling and moulding can shrink, warp and crack.

Worse, support beams, posts, and joists can shrink and move out of position. Furniture, including antiques and family heirlooms, can be damaged by dry air.

Most people can feel a difference when indoor humidity falls below 30%. Your nasal passages and sinuses can dry out and become irritated. And this dryness makes it harder for your body to fight off colds and other viruses.

Most of us don’t feel as thirsty when it’s cold out, and so don’t drink as much water. But we should! Dry air constantly draws moisture from your body. That’s why your skin can get dry and itchy in the winter. If you are having trouble concentrating or getting headaches, you might have low-level dehydration. Chronic wintertime dehydration can reduce productivity with fatigue, mind fog, and even joint pain.

Healthy humidity levels in your home are a big deal! So, what can you do about it?

Moisturize your home.

Keeping your home's relative humidity between 30% and 50% will help solve these problems. That is the best level for protecting wood floors and furniture, reducing static electricity and preventing those nasty physical side effects. 

A humidifier will help produce and rotate enough moist air in your house to protect your home and belongings and improve personal comfort. You have options.

Portable humidifiers

A portable humidifier is inexpensive and can be bought at most hardware or department stores. They are perfect for keeping a healthy humidity in a single room because they work well in a limited area. They do need refilling and cleaning, so that’s something to consider.

Unfortunately, your furnace won’t be able to pull the humid air from one room and move it to the next. Plus, portable humidifiers can sometimes pump too much moisture into the air in one area. If you’re not careful, you could get condensation built up in that room, which can cause moisture damage and promote mould or mildew growth.

Whole-house humidifiers

A whole-house bypass humidifier works with your HVAC system to move humidified air throughout your entire home around the clock. You can set it to the optimal relative humidity level so you’ll feel comfortable without running the risk of too much moisture in the house.

Unlike a portable one, a whole-house bypass humidifier never needs to be refilled. It’s connected to your plumbing system and can evaporate up to 12 to 17 gallons of water daily!

Whole-home humidifiers can help you save on your energy bill, too. Because moist air holds more heat than dry air, your home feels warmer. That allows you to turn the thermostat down one or two degrees without reducing that comfort level. 

You should have your humidifier inspected and cleaned every year. Annual maintenance will reduce limescale or other deposit build-up that can cause clogs or leaks. The technician might also de-scale other parts of the humidifier so it continues to work correctly.

Have questions? Contact a professional HVAC company to learn more about whole-home humidifying systems.