Humidity control is an important part of indoor comfort. Palatine, IL experiences high humidity during many months of the year. Whole-home dehumidifiers work with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to remove humidity and improve indoor comfort. Here are several ways that whole-home humidification systems affect the indoor climate.
Improved Comfort
Experts recommend keeping indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% for optimum comfort and mold control. As humidity increases, the feeling of warmth increases. Too much humidity reduces the ability for sweat to evaporate, an important way that people expel heat. You may feel clammy or hot and may want to lower the temperature on the air conditioner to compensate.
Low humidity levels make the air feel colder. Because heat removes moisture from the air, too little humidity can be a problem during winter months. It can cause nasal passages, mucous membranes and skin to dry out, which can aggravate allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems.
Better Indoor Environmental Control
High humidity levels create an environment that allows organic growth to thrive. You may notice organic growth on walls, bathroom surfaces, or near air conditioning ducts. Organic growth can aggravate asthma and allergies for those who suffer from these problems. It can affect the structural integrity of buildings and damage furnishings. Humidity levels higher than 60% encourage pest infestations, including dust mites and cockroaches.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
Whole-home dehumidifiers work with your HVAC system to regulate humidity throughout the year. They automatically adjust humidity levels according to your comfort settings and the amount of humidity in the air. Controlling humidity contributes to good indoor air quality by inhibiting organic growth and controlling the environment that allows pests to thrive. Poor indoor air quality allows bacteria, viruses, and fungi to grow. Use whole-home dehumidifiers with other effective IAQ products, such as better air filters, UV lights, and air purifiers, to improve the air you breathe in your home.
Ray’s HVAC takes a whole-home approach to indoor comfort. We use industry standards to calculate the load for new installations of heating and air conditioning equipment. Properly sized equipment regulates both humidity and temperature for optimum comfort. If you are concerned about humidity in your home or business, call us today for an evaluation.
