What is humidity? Why is this particular concept something that you need to care about?
Honestly, humidity is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but most people don’t really know what it means. However, you should at least understand its fundamentals, especially if you care about your health and your house or property’s structural integrity.
Allow me to explain this concept more thoroughly below.
What Is Humidity?
One should know that you don’t need to become a science geek to understand what humidity is. Well, I am not saying that being interested in science is a lame thing; in fact, it is the opposite. Instead, what I am trying to point here is that you don’t need to have a profound scientific background before you can grasp this term.
Again, let me emphasize that many are quite oblivious about humidity as a concept. After all, it’s a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air, and to most people, water vapor is invisible. But it’s an important measurement, one that can tell you a lot about the current weather and even what’s going to happen in your city over the next few days.
Specifically, humidity is the existence of water vapor in the air. Hence, you can say that when the humidity is high, there’s a lot of water vapor on it. When the humidity is low, its water vapor content is low, too.
Aside from humidity, you have to understand relative humidity, as well. Relative humidity is derived from humidity, but it holds a more specific meaning. Technically, The relative humidity of air is a measure of how “damp” it feels. It is also a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a certain temperature. The maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold at a certain temperature is called saturation. (The relative humidity of air is the ratio of actual vapor pressure to saturation vapor pressure. In other words, it is the fraction of water vapor in the air.)
The thing that your weather reporter is reporting during the morning is relative humidity and not just generic humidity.
Where Does Humidity Come From?
Humidity is not an abnormal phenomenon. It occurs naturally in the atmosphere since water vapor is naturally existing, too.
Again, humidity exists because of water vapor. And at this point, we have to know where water vapor comes from.
Water vapor gets in the atmosphere via evaporation, specifically from different water bodies such as oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Furthermore, water vapor has to be considered as an essential aspect of the water cycle. Every time evaporation occurs, water vapor is generated; it is only removed by condensation.
If the temperature is high, it means the air can absorb more water vapor. Hence, in areas where the climate is warm, humidity is high. If the climate is cold, the air appears to be dry, which suggests that the percentage of water vapor is small.
For instance, at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, saturated air may contain 1 ounce of water per cubic meter. But when the temperature drops to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the air may only contain 0.1 ounces of water per cubic meter.
This particular nuance is the very reason why it is called relative humidity.
What Causes Humidity In Houses?
Obviously, there’s no seas or lakes in your house. However, this doesn’t mean that humidity is no longer an applicable phenomenon in your humble abode.
In fact, it is an issue that many people have been trying to deal with for many years already. While it is true that humidity is a naturally occurring phenomenon, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have any harsh effects on your health and properties.
However, let me clarify that humidity gets bad if it gets too high or too low. Later, I will discuss the ideal humidity range where you can breathe the air comfortably. In the meantime, let me elaborate on the common causes of humidity.
Numerous factors can influence the humidity levels in your home. The actual design of your house and the materials that are used in its construction can cause changes in the humidity levels. The existence of insulations and retarders may become a factor, too.
Needless to say, the climate and the current temperature in your area have a significant impact on the humidity of your house. You can say that the average home humidity in Florida is higher than in Minnesota or Alaska.
Also, you need to take into account the HVAC systems in your home. For example, if your house is equipped with an extremely large AC unit, it will not help absorb the excess moisture in your space. You see, the coils in these air conditioners act as dehumidifiers. If they can run long enough, they will be able to reduce room humidity to proper levels. But it will never happen with large AC units, as they can cool your area fast. Hence, it will be able to run for extended periods, which is essential to guarantee that it can absorb the moisture in the air.
What’s The Ideal Humidity For Homes? How To Measure It?
The ideal humidity for homes is generally around 40% to 60%, with an optimal comfort range of 30% to 50%. I suggest that you stay on the 45% to 65% to ensure that you are experiencing the most suitable air possible.
However, you should mind your comfort levels, too. You see, each of us has our own standards of “comfortable.” I can be comfortable at 50% relative humidity, and you can only feel such a thing if the humidity reaches 40%. That’s completely alright, though. The only thing that you need to do is to make the proper adjustments.
Also, always consider your health, as well as the well-being of your family. Allergy sufferers require the air to be a little bit dry. In this way, molds, fungi, and other allergy triggers will not be able to persist.
Use a hygrometer to ascertain the humidity in your space. It is a device that can provide accurate humidity readings in your home.
What Happens If The Humidity Is Too Low?
When humidity levels are too low, a home can become very dry and uncomfortable. Not only does this make people feel stuffy and irritable, but it can also cause health problems. You may start to experience problems breathing, your skin will become drier, and you may even get nosebleeds!
Low humidity can also impact your body temperature. It can make you feel cold, even if the thermostat in your house is cranked to the highest setting. And since the humidity is pretty high, it is easy for bacteria and viruses to thrive.
Furthermore, low humidity is a common cause of structural damages. It can make furnishings, and wood floors warp, shrink, and crack. It can also cause wallpapers to peel or loosen. Behind the damaged wallpaper, molds can grow quickly.
What Happens If The Humidity Is Too High?
Humidity is high if the climate is hot. Hence, it is pretty common for excess moisture to take place during the summer. However, you may still suffer from humidity in any part of the year.
Areas with high humidity may suffer from various symptoms. It can be seen in the unusual condensation of the windows. The presence of stains and wet patches in the ceilings and walls. Furthermore, extremely damp air can generate a musty odor. It can cause your bathroom to be moldy. Keep in mind that high levels of humidity are the primary cause of mildew and mold growth in buildings, which can cause a variety of health concerns such as allergies and asthma.
Combining high humidity with high temperatures can cause troublesome problems, such as heat stroke. It can also compromise the structural integrity of your home. It can contribute to the quick deterioration of materials, which would result in pest infestation.
How To Control Humidity In Your Home?
At this point, it is essential that you can control your indoor humidity. Basically, you need to achieve the ideal or comfortable range for you and your family.
To do this, one must invest in either humidifiers or dehumidifiers–depending on your needs. In fact, you can get both of these devices at the same time.
On a cold, dry winter day, what could be better than stepping into a room that’s warm and cozy with the humidity level set just right? That’s what a humidifier is for. But how does it work? Essentially, a humidifier helps to make the air in your home or office more bearable by adding moisture to it. It’s a good idea to run a humidifier on dry days, especially in the winter, to help keep your family and pets comfortable and safe, and prevent health complications.
Meanwhile, a dehumidifier is a device that removes moisture from the air to improve comfort in a room or building. Simply put, it keeps the air in your home from feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. It is an excellent choice for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or breathing problems. Plus, it provides protection against rust, mold, and other moisture-related damage.
Conclusion
It is vital that you are aware of the role of humidity in the overall comfort and structure of your home. Once the moisture is set right, you will be able to avoid health complications and structural problems in your space. I recommend that you shouldn’t ignore the effects of unregulated humidity. Address the matter right away!
I hope that you find this guide useful. For other inquiries, ask me in the comment section below.