The important thing to remember is that the perfect indoor humidity level is not the same depending where you live. If you live in a hot and humid climate such as Florida, it is 40% to 50%. If you live in a cool dry climate, the perfect indoor humidity levels can be 30% to 40%. Some very dry climates such as in desert areas can even be lower so you have to add indoor humidity to the air through a humidifier. Some people like it humid and some like it dry, it depends on who you are talking to.
Depending upon your body type and gene pool, the human body can adapt to any climate that it needs to. The human body does not do well with constant changes of back and forth. An example is: Hot and humid climate in Florida; going in and out of air conditioning can be harmful to your health.
If the humidity level regularly exceeds 50% for too a long a period, you are likely to experience a rapidly increasing dust mite population, which will affect allergy sufferers also.
A room that has high moisture content in the air will have a strong musty odor. The damp air is a perfect breeding ground for mold, algae, mildew and fungus to grow which can cause health problems such as Asthma and Allergies. The best course of action is to fix the problem because it will not get better over time. A temporary fix is a humidifier till the problem is fixed and remediated.
The latest models of dehumidifiers in the market place have built-in humidity controls to keep the levels below 50%. There are many manufacturers of humidifiers, so go over to the Consumers Reports people and check out their test results for what is the best one to buy for your money.
If you are one of those people who has problems with your sinuses because of low humidity, this will be bad for you also. I know that every winter is a problem for a lot of my clients because of dry skin, itchy eyes and dried out sinus. Some people can also get sick from this condition and think it is an Indoor Air Quality problem when it is just due to low moisture in the air. A good quality Humidifier can help that condition in the winter time for all of us. A humidifier will put moisture back into the air to help out with that condition. They can also be programmed to operate on your furnace, air conditioner or in the bedroom for that room only.
It is also a good idea to have a good quality hygrometer to check out the moisture levels in your home. Like I mentioned in a previous paragraph, check out the Consumers Reports people for their latest test results and which hygrometer is the best one for your dollar. Do not buy a cheap model from your local dealer. The best thing is to go to Google and do an internet search for "best quality hygrometer" for the right one. If you buy one, make sure that the price tag is more than $50. Remember, you get what you pay for in hygrometer.
If you have any question, feel free to call us or visit our website. We specialize in Indoor Air Quality for people with Asthma, Allergies and the Chemically Sensitive.
No comments:
Post a Comment