The quality of your indoor air may be improved and protected in various ways, regardless of whether you live in an old house or a brand new one.
Pollutants released into the air by indoor pollution sources are a major contributor to poor indoor air quality in houses. A home’s interior pollutant levels may rise if fresh outside air isn’t brought in to offset the effects of indoor emissions and if that fresh air isn’t transported outside to do so. Some contaminants’ concentrations may rise due to elevated temperatures and humidity.
Keeping the air in your house clean and fresh is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy and pleasant living environment. Having a sense of what’s going on outside and the right temperature and humidity levels in your home may assist. The following is a list of things you can do to keep your house pleasant and healthy and ways to check your home’s indoor air quality. Indoor humidity and temperature are also discussed on this page about various seasons.
The effects of high/low indoor air humidity
Moisture or water vapour in the air is known as humidity. Whether the air is humid (high humidity) or dry (low humidity), the consequences on our bodies might be negative.
Some of the symptoms of very humid indoor air are as follows:
- Sweating or becoming overheated
- Fatigue
- Unruly hair
- Disturbances to one’s sleep
- Respiratory problems; and
- Allergies such as asthma
Dry air in the home may lead to:
- itchy, scaly skin
- dry your eyes
- lips with a dry, cracked appearance
- a swollen and bloodshot eye
- a sore throat;
- allergic symptoms, such as asthma and eczema
As soon as you’ve been exposed to air pollution, you may notice these symptoms, or they may show up years later. Temporary and manageable are generally the most common short-term side effects.
Dry Indoor Air
During the winter months, the air in your home is virtually always dry. Relative humidity may drop below 20% when the temperature falls drastically below zero. During the winter months, the ideal relative humidity in the home should be between 20% and 40%. The opposite is true: a higher interior temperature leads to more dry air. Dry air in the home may be caused by various factors, one of which is a too warm environment. Ideally, the room temperature wouldn’t exceed 21 degrees Celsius. When the temperature in the house is lowered, the relative humidity rises.
In the winter, humidity levels of more than 45 per cent are often brought on by human activity (cooking, washing, etc.) and inadequate ventilation. The humidity condenses on cold surfaces like windows and mirrors when this happens. In the worst-case situation, the structure of the building begins to condense with humidity. This will very certainly harm one’s health in the future.
Humid Indoor Air
When it’s hot outside, the inside air humidity rises with it, and this may be anything from 50% to 70% in the summer. Summertime humidity levels should fall around between 30 and 50 per cent. To avoid the growth of germs in the structure or on its surfaces, the relative humidity inside must be maintained below a certain threshold. Humidity levels shouldn’t get beyond 60% regularly.
As the temperature increases, the relative humidity falls. It’s counterproductive to raise the thermostat in the home when the weather is nice. However, you may use warmer temperatures in garages and storage spaces to reduce humidity.
How to control the temperature and humidity levels
Moisture might build up in the house if the air conditioning system isn’t working properly. You can achieve this as long as your equipment and ducts are set up correctly. A properly fitted system has the capacity, run duration, and airflow to remove excess moisture from your property. You will be more comfortable in your own house if you have a custom-designed and installed HVAC system. Additionally, you’ll be able to save money in the process. Increasing the temperature of your thermostat by a few degrees in the summer might save you money on your energy costs if your house is less humid. Your home’s humidity level may drop dangerously low in the winter, putting you at risk of mould and mildew. In addition to causing skin irritation and dried-out sinuses, this also damages hardwood floors and furnishings, not to mention making you feel bad all over. When it comes to controlling the humidity in your family home, a whole-house humidification system may be the best option regardless of whether you have a heat pump, gas, oil, or electric furnace.
Early detection through fam Snags It.
We at fäm Snag Because we spend 90% of our time inside monitoring indoor air quality. In contrast to outside air, allowing contaminants accumulate and build up. This includes contaminants like carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations and the temperature and humidity of the air within your house. As a result, the fäm inspector uses a thermal camera to look for any leaks in the building’s walls that allow heat from outside to seep in or vice versa. This can cause condensation when hot air mixes with cold air from the air conditioner, leading to a low level of humidity in the building’s air. fäm Snag It We at fäm Snag It believes in early detection. Because we spend so much time inside, it’s important to watch our indoor air quality.
In contrast to outside air, they allow contaminants to accumulate and build up. The levels of contaminants like carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in the air, as well as the temperature and humidity, all have a role in indoor air quality (IAQ). When high temperatures mix with cold air from the AC, condensation can occur, contributing to the low humidity levels found inside the room. The fäm inspector employs a thermal camera that can specifically detect any poorly insulated walls that allow external heat to pass into the room or vice versa.
