Maintaining optimal humidity poses a challenge to homeowners, especially
in Texas summers. Rise to the challenge with these tips.
by
BRYCE CAVAZOS
Dialing in the right comfort level in the home poses a never-ending challenge. North Texas weather certainly offers no assistance in that matter, and neither does the humidity it brings. While most understand that ambient temperature presents a key factor to whole home comfort, homeowners should also consider humidity. Damp air should be monitored and controlled, though it is generally less understood and often overlooked.
The drastic weather fluctuations from season to season in Texas only present more challenges in keeping a pleasant environment inside the home. Achieving the whole home comfort level members desire starts with humidity control. In general, humidity represents the volume of water vapor or water molecules in the air.
Water exists in three states—liquid, solid and gas. Water in its gaseous form is called water vapor.
After a hot shower, water vapor in the bathroom increases due to evaporation from the shower. Humidity rises and results in the room steaming up. When water vapor comes in contact with a cool surface, such as the bathroom mirror, it condenses into tiny droplets and forms a “fog” on the glass.
In nature, water vapor exists in the Earth’s atmosphere because water vapor evaporates from large bodies of water on Earth’s surface, such as lakes, oceans and seas. It is an integral part of the water cycle, as water vapor is continuously generated by evaporation and removed by condensation.
Meteorologists typically refer to water vapor in the atmosphere with two terms: absolute humidity and relative humidity. Absolute humidity is the measure of water vapor in the air. The higher the amount of water vapor, the higher the absolute humidity levels will be. Relative humidity measures the water vapor in the air as well, but it is compared to the maximum amount of water vapor that can exist in the air at its current temperature.
A relative humidity of 100 percent means that the atmosphere is completely saturated and is unable to hold any more water vapor. When it’s completely saturated, condensation forms and falls back to Earth as rain.
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. The warmer the climate, the higher the humidity level can be. Colder climates often have lower humidity levels than warmer climates.
While Texas has an average humidity level between 75 to 80 percent, humidity levels can vary vastly amongst Texas regions. Northwestern areas in Texas tend to have the lowest humidity levels, while central eastern and southern areas tend to be the most humid regions statewide.
Comfortable indoor humidity levels can range from 30 to 60 percent, and most central HVAC systems play an integral role in maintaining a comfortable interior humidity level.
Everyday actions, such as breathing, cooking, cleaning, dishwashing, laundry, bathing and other indoor processes can alter moisture levels in the home’s conditioned air, affecting indoor humidity.
Maintaining healthy interior humidity levels is essential, as inadequate humidity levels can influence one’s overall health and the health of the home. Too much humidity can cause significant issues such as dampness, mold and mildew, and too little humidity makes the air dry and uncomfortable. It’s important to understand the difference between high and low humidity levels and their repercussions.
Although beneficial in some circumstances, high humidity promotes increased bacteria growth and is therefore undesirable for most homes. Excess moisture caused by leaking windows or even moisture rising from ground floors can potentially lead to more issues than just home comfort. If interior humidity levels are greater than 50 percent, problems may develop. This could put occupants at risk for allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Dust mites cannot survive without humidity, therefore in high humidity homes dust mites thrive. Dust mites prefer mild to moderate temperatures with high humidity levels as they absorb water from it. As these microscopic organisms can worsen one’s allergies and asthma, maintaining a healthy home humidity level is crucial to minimizing their detrimental effects.
On the other hand, low humidity levels may cause just as many issues as high humidity levels. Low humidity can lead to dry skin as very dry air extracts moisture from the skin and causes conditions like eczema to worsen. Studies from the National Library of Medicine and PubMed have found that low humidity should be avoided to protect the tear film in eyes. Other factors, such as the ability to concentrate or perform simple tasks, can be affected by slight shifts in the relative humidity and temperature.
A positive relationship between low humidity and the prolific spread of influenza virus (flu) has also been correlated. This study, conducted by ScienceDaily.com, found that peak times of low humidity, such as in the winter, led to increased flu transmission.
Home humidity can greatly affect the comfort quality of a home, and it can also affect the consumer’s monthly utility bill. High home humidity levels will make the home feel warmer than it is. Low humidity levels will do the opposite. This can result in HVAC systems operating for longer periods. HVAC systems consume between 50 to 60 percent of a home’s total annual energy usage. With HVAC being the largest consumer in a home, achieving humidity levels in preferred ranges can lead to HVAC systems operating much less. This can add valuable dollars back to the consumer.
If humidity levels are greater than 60 percent in a member’s home, they should consider remedying the situation with several techniques. Air conditioning is one of the easiest solutions to high humidity in a home, but this is not the most cost-effective. Replacing HVAC filters regularly helps keep HVAC systems at peak performance and this helps ensure fresh air is being circulated throughout the home.
Bathroom fans can help circulate air in areas where warm, damp air tends to accumulate. Range hoods are mechanical fans that can aid in improving air circulation above the oven, stove or cooktop. These fans can remove steam, heat and fumes from cooking.
Drying clothes outside on a line dryer can assist with the amount of moisture brought into a home and save on electricity used by a dryer. Opening windows allows fresh air to enter the home and improves air circulation. Running a dehumidifier can help to bring indoor humidity levels back to healthy ranges. Home dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, this could be a viable solution to high home humidity that isn’t so energy-intensive.
If the home is struggling to raise the relative humidity levels indoors, simple fixes might include drying clothes on a rack inside the home rather than using a tumble dryer or washing line outside. Moisture in damp clothing will evaporate into the home. When bathing or showering, leave the water in the bathtub until it cools down or open the door when showering to allow evaporated moisture to spread throughout the home. A home humidifier is another option as well, as these machines can add moisture to the air for homes with ongoing issues with low humidity levels.
United’s team of energy solutions specialists are always available to answer any questions or offer recommendations on how to improve indoor air quality and other home efficiencies. United offers free home energy audits to its members. Find the sign-up form on United’s website at www.ucs.net/energy-audits.