Throughout the summer, you may often notice your home has comparatively higher humidity than in winter. Humidity refers to the quantity of water vapour in the air.
High humidity does not only cause respiratory and skin problems but can also damage your home’s structure.
During the summer, it’s generally recommended to aim for a slightly lower humidity level compared to the more humid winter months, as warmer air can hold more moisture. So, what’s the ideal indoor humidity summer?
How to Manage Ideal Indoor Humidity Summer
With the ideal level of humidity in your home at every moment, your HVAC systems can function well. So what should the level of humidity in winter vs. summer?
Research has been conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They have concluded that the ideal indoor humidity in summer is between 30% and 50%. The level of moisture should always be kept below 60%.
The ideal humidity level should be below 40% to prevent condensation on the windows as for winter. How can you know if your home is at the perfect indoor humidity?
Using a hygrometer, you can easily measure the ideal indoor humidity level in summer. It’s a compact device that you can use to measure the moisture and temperature level in your home easily. Even if you don’t have this device, you can always tell the humidity by how you feel inside your home.
To help you manage the ideal indoor humidity summer, here are several things you can do to control humidity levels throughout the summer:
1. Maintain the Cooling System
Indoor moisture control is an essential feature of the air conditioning system. Therefore, plan annual specialist AC maintenance, including maintaining an indoor evaporator coil that removes water vapour from the air. Also, check the refrigerant charge to reduce the moisture levels optimally.
2. Seal Any Crack and Gap
Naturally, the outdoor humidity moves into the drier areas inside the home. Any small gap and crack in the house’s structure allow the moist air to flow inside, increasing the indoor humidity levels. Seal any crack or gap around the doors and windows using silicone caulking to ensure that you always have the ideal indoor humidity summer.
3. Install a Dehumidifier
Consider installing a whole-house dehumidifier connected to the HVAC system. It will automatically remove the water vapour from the airflow system so that indoor humidity is always ideal. The whole system will continually dehumidify all the air circulated in the indoor home.
Using a dehumidifier if your indoor humidity consistently exceeds 50% can help prevent issues related to excessive moisture, such as mould growth and musty odours.
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However, remember that personal comfort preferences can vary, so it’s essential to find a humidity level that feels comfortable for you while also considering your indoor environment’s health and maintenance aspects.
4. Install Exhaust Fans
The high levels of humidity in the bathroom and kitchen are normal. It could be handled by installing exhaust fans extending throughout your resident’s exterior, not just into the attic.
Throughout the summer, the level of humidity is always higher. Why does it happen? Basically, the humidity level is higher due to the more moisture within the warm air. As warmer air holds more water, the water remains in the air before rain.
This makes indoor air feel stuffy during the summer, and it can cause physical activities more difficult. That is why maintaining the ideal indoor humidity in summer is essential. You can use the four ways above to make your home feel comfortable in summer.
