What is relative humidity, and how does it affect air quality?
If you have allergies or asthma, the humidity level in your home is important.A number of health problems can be caused by excessive levels of humidity.Health issues can be caused by exposure to low humidity.Structural damage to your home may be caused by too high or low levels of humidity.Humidity can be controlled with the aid of a humidifier or a dehumidifier, which can help prevent poor air quality, asthma and home damage.Relative humidity is often referred to as absolute humidity.
You can learn more about what relative humidity is, where it comes from, and how to maintain ideal levels of humidity in your home.
The amount of water in the air at a certain temperature is called relative humidity.Air is not able to hold onto water vapor because it moves too quickly.The air in your home will feel damp when it reaches a specific capacity of water vapor.When relative humidity is too high, mold and mildew growth and trapped allergens can become more likely, which may cause allergy and asthma symptoms to appear.
When trying to figure out how to make the air in your home healthy, relative humidity is an important factor to consider.It allows you to know how much humidity you have and which type of dehumidifier is best for you.The region and climate you live in will affect the relative humidity in your home.
The gram-per-cubic-meter measure of the water vapor in the air is called the relative humidity.The relative humidity is calculated by dividing the number by 100.The relative humidity in your home can be calculated using hygrometers and dehumidifiers.
The amount of water in the air is called absolute humidity.The National Weather Service defines it as the amount of water in the air or atmosphere regardless of the temperature.The more water in the air, the higher the humidity.The absolute humidity is what we feel as humidity in the air.
The relative humidity is a percentage of the amount of water in the air relative to the temperature.Warm air can hold more water than cold air.The relative humidity can be lower in warm air and higher in cold air.
Relative humidity and absolute humidity can't be used the same way.
People spend most of their time indoors.You may be surprised to learn that indoor air pollutants are up to 5 times higher than outdoor pollutants.You can see dust on a bookshelf or dirt on the floor when you know it's time to clean, but you can't always see the pollution in the air.The main indoor air pollutants include:
It is safe to say that your air needs to be cleaned if any of these pollutants are present.Healthier air is:
There are several ways that water can enter your home.The bathroom and kitchen are more humid than other areas of the home when water is used frequently.There can be humidity in your home.
The humidity between 30% and 50% is usually too low.The ideal range of relative humidity is between 30% and 50% according to the EPA.Depending on the climate you live in, as well as your personal preference.
The ability of air to hold water changes as temperatures rise and fall.The air can hold more water.Air is cooler when it's humid.Poor indoor air quality can harm your health, and can be caused by excess relative humidity.
If you live in the desert, you may not be able to deal with the problems of relative humidity.High levels of humidity can leave your home in need of maintenance.Excess humidity can cause some home damage.
Poor air quality in your home due to high levels of relative humidity can cause more than mold growth and peeling wallpaper, it may have a significant impact on your health.People with asthma, allergies, or compromised immune systems are more likely to have problems.People with no underlying health issues may find that high humidity can cause physical ailments.Many of these symptoms can be triggered by mold, mildew, and mites because they thrive in humid environments.Excess humidity can have health effects.
When relative humidity levels are too low, they are harmful.You may not notice the low levels of relative humidity in your home and body because they are more obscure.
You probably use your fireplace more when it's cold outside.The air in your home can become excessively dry if the humidity drops below ideal levels.Low relative humidity can affect your home.
Low relative humidity can affect your health.According to the Cleveland Clinic, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms.
There are many ways in which humidity levels can become too high or too low, as well as many health and home problems caused by an imbalance of humidity, but there are also simple ways to keep it at an ideal level.To keep the relative humidity in your home between the ideal levels of 30% and 50%, you may want to consider using a dehumidifier or a humidifier.
Dehumidifiers work by removing excess humidity from your home's air, making it a less hospitable environment for allergens.There are portable and whole-house dehumidifiers that can be installed into your home.It's easy to use portable dehumidifiers.It can be very expensive to install a whole-house dehumidifier.
Water vapor is used to keep the air in a room moist.A humidifier can help improve your indoor air quality.Cool and warm-mist humidifiers have advantages and disadvantages.Many of the health symptoms associated with dry air can be alleviated by using a humidifier.
Your health and the condition of your house can be affected by the relative humidity in your home.It is possible to keep your home between 30% and 50% humidity.If you have low or high relative humidity, you may need a dehumidifier.Both devices can be used at different times of the year if you live in a region that experiences all four seasons.