Winters in Canada are a frightful part of life in the Northern hemisphere with an average of 100 deaths a year due to extreme cold and winter storms. Heating our homes is one of those things, if done right, we should be able to take for granted and go about our busy lives. Everyone has their preferred temperature levels for their home and most people set their thermostats between 18 -21 degrees Celsius, but what about humidity levels?
Balance is key to heating your home for the best cost efficiency, health concerns, and maintaining the condition of the house itself. Too much or too little humidity can have a negative impact on your home and the health of your family. So, what is the best humidity level for your Canadian home? Keep reading to find out.
Heating and Humidity
Humidity is the measure of moisture present in the air of an environment. Depending on the weather and the location of your home, outside humidity levels may vary from season to season. Humidity can and should be controlled inside the home regardless of the conditions outside.
In winter, the indoor humidity level in a home can quickly drop simply because the furnace is heating the air and drying it out. Other factors such as showering and cooking can increase the humidity level in a house as well. Regardless of varying factors, maintaining a humidity level between 30-40% is ideal.
Avoid Condensation
Unfortunately, there is not one exact humidity to fit all situations. We recommend that you keep an eye on your windows for condensation to judge if humidity is too high in your home. When warm heated air hits the cold windows condensation forms.
When condensation forms on windows the water beads down damaging the window sill, can creep into the wall itself threatening its integrity, and even allow toxic moulds to grow. The perfect comfortable humidity level is as high as it can be without causing too much condensation on your windows.
Uncomfortably Low Humidity
On the other end of the spectrum, humidity levels that are too low cause health issues for those living in the house. Dry air tends to dry out the skin and scalp and can aggravate asthma and other medical conditions.
The good news is when installing a new furnace for your home, today's HVAC technology comes standard with smart and advanced technology for humidity control. Gas heaters, furnaces, and fireplaces that don't have built-in humidifiers make things a little more complicated. Consider updating your system or adding a humidifier to control humidity levels in your home to avoid the above issues.
Stay Warm and Comfortable This Winter
The professionals at Kingston Home Heating and Air Conditioning™ are dedicated to the highest standard of service in the industry. For over thirty years we have worked to keep Kingston homes comfortable and safe for residents. For all your heating and cooling needs contact us today.