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what should house humidity be in winter

what should house humidity be in winter [2023 Update]

In winter, most of us tend to only focus on the indoor temperature and the ways to be always warm during this season. But unfortunately, we forget to consider indoor humidity as well along with the ways to prevent it.

Humidity plays a key role in keeping your indoor environment healthy and comfortable, including the safety of your belongings (Wooden Structures and more). So you can say that it is one of the most important things that everyone should pay more attention to, and maintain an appropriate humidity level in their home year-round.

Basically, the change you feel is known as RH. RH stands for relative humidity, the amount of water vapor present in the air. Even the Humidity level in a house can also cause the difference in heating and cooling costs.

Btw the ideal humidity level for comfort is around 30-40% during winter, so maintaining this humidity level will surely get rid of all the issues you are facing. However, if you won’t able to maintain the humidity level then it will cause many issues.

Because of low humidity, you may face dry and itchy skin, nosebleeds, cracked lips, a miserable night’s sleep, and many more. On the other hand, high humidity in your home can cause mold growth, which can lead to various problems, including health issues and structural damage.

Note: Having a dehumidifier can also help you to get rid of all these issues.


What is Relative Humidity?

what should house humidity be in winter

Basically, relative humidity is the amount of water vapor that is present in the air in relation to the amount of water vapor the air can hold. For example, if you have 100 percent relative humidity then it means that the air is completely saturated with water vapor and cannot hold any more moisture at that temperature.

Btw you can measure the humidity level in many different ways but relative humidity (RH) is the most common among all. More specifically relative humidity is the ratio of the current amount of water vapor (moisture) in the air and the maximum amount of vapor the air can potentially contain at a given temperature.

For your kind information let me tell you that colder air holds less moisture than warmer air so you can say that humidity increases more in summer the winter. The exact opposite reaction happens during winter time too, like when the temperature drops, the humidity naturally drops.

However, by using a heater you can easily solve the problem of low humidity and dry out your indoor air.

Well without saying more let’s just get into the main topic and know more about it…


What Should Indoor Humidity Be In Winter?

or

Most Comfortable Indoor Humidity Level in Winter

what should house humidity be in winter
what should house humidity be in winter

As I said earlier that having perfect humidity is very comfortable and good for health also but the question is… what is the most comfortable indoor humidity level in winter?

According to the EPA, the most comfortable indoor humidity level should be kept below 60% and ideally between 30% and 50%. With this humidity level, you won’t face all the humidity-related issues that a person may face during winter. So overall you can say that it’s the ideal range for your health, comfort, and your home’s structural integrity.


How to Add humidity in your room


Disadvantages of Low humidity

Because of low humidity, you may face too many different issues such as…

Dry skin:

what should house humidity be in winter

Every skin has a moisture barrier that needs constant replenishment, but low humidity can cause the moisture barrier to dry out too quickly and lead to itchy, flaky, and cracked skin.

Although any moisturizer cream can help you to get rid of such skin issues… but this solution is not an effective solution, and to prevent this all you have to do is maintain ideal humidity levels by eliminating the cause.

Scratchy throat:

Scratch Throat is also one of the most common signs that you’re about to get sick, but it can also be a symptom of a dry environment. Since the mucous membranes of your throat can dry out so quickly, and which can cause an unpleasantly scratchy throat.

Irritated Sensation:

Just like a scratchy throat, your sinus cavities and mucous membranes in your nose can dry out quickly too and because of this, you may feel a burning or irritating sensation.

nosebleeds:

If you have dry, irritated mucous membranes then having nosebleeds is just a result of those, and by increasing the humidity level you can easily get rid of such issues.

Static electricity:

If a home is appropriately humidified then the static electricity in the air naturally dissipates but if the indoor air is excellent at storing electrons then it means that the air is dry.

Because of dry air, you may face some unexpected electric shocks when you touch a conductor.

Wood damage:

what should house humidity be in winter

Dry air can absorb the moisture out of the wood in your home, which can lead to wood cracking, splitting, and bending. In simple words, dry air can damage wooden floors, the wooden frame of your home, furniture, and even musical instruments.


FAQs

Q: Is 60% humidity too high for a house in winter?

The ideal indoor range is between 40-60%. This humidity level will make a room feel warm and comfortable while drying out the build-up of moisture or mold problems, as well as improving respiratory health by increasing internal circulation.

Q: What humidity is best for sleeping?

If the most comfortable humidity level is around 40% to 60% then the perfect humidity for your sleeping will be the same as well since at this level you are basically ensuring comfort.