Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air and it can cause real problems in your home. It wasn’t long ago that home owners just had to sense when there was too much humidity, based on how they felt physically or what damage was being done to their belongings. Today, it’s possible to measure humidity quite easily, and understanding this can go a long way to helping ensure you are comfortable and healthy in your environment.
Generally, somewhere between 30% and 50% is the ideal indoor humidity range. It’s important your home is somewhere between these figures otherwise if it’s too high it can lead to a multitude of problems including mould, an increase in allergies, as well as causing damage to wooden furniture and electronics. At the same time, there can be issues when humidity is too low, with dry skin and respiratory issues.
So managing humidity is a vital part of ensuring you live in a healthy and comfortable environment. As a global leader in HVAC technology since 1924, Daikin’s experts have years of expertise and have installed millions of units globally and offer a wide range of humidifiers and dehumidifiers. And in this article we will break down everything you need to know about getting the right level of humidity in your home, how to control it accurately, the common causes behind high levels of humidity, the benefits of keeping it at optimal levels and we will also answer some FAQs as well.
How to control humidity in your home
The best way to keep a healthy environment and control humidity in your home is usually a mixture of approaches all used alongside each other. These would include making sure you have enough natural ventilation, having the right humidifier/dehumidifier in place, as well as ensuring your HVAC solution is delivering what you need to keep your home a pleasant living environment. By using a mixture of methods you have the best possible chance of keeping humidity levels stable throughout the year.
At Daikin, we offer HVAC units with built-in humidity control, ensuring optimal comfort no matter the season. Contact Daikin today.
Common causes of high or low indoor humidity
The main causes of problems with indoor humidity are climate, ventilation, daily household activities, and HVAC performance. Let’s look at these in more detail:
Climate: If you live in a coastal or tropical part of the world, the chances are you will be dealing with high humidity. For those who live in colder climates, it’s quite common to have issues with excessively dry air during the winter.
Ventilation: If your space is poorly ventilated, then it will trap moisture. This causes problems with bathrooms, kitchens, and basements in particular – all areas which are vulnerable to too much humidity.
Cooking and showers: A lot of moisture finds its way into your home just through everyday activities like boiling water or hot showers.
HVAC system efficiency: If your HVAC system is old or isn’t maintained well, it may not be working peak performance and therefore not regulating humidity effectively. This in turn leads to an uncomfortable environment as well as damage to property.
Effective methods to control humidity
You can manage indoor humidity with tools like dehumidifiers, humidifiers, exhaust fans, insulation, and HVAC maintenance.
Dehumidifiers: Using a portable dehumidifier (or one designed to work across your entire home) will remove excess moisture from the air and protect effectively against mould and mildew.
Humidifiers: When winter comes the air can become too dry so using a humidifier will help restore moisture. This is important in order to prevent dry skin or respiratory issues.
Exhaust fans: Making sure you have a fan in the bathroom and the kitchen will help get rid of excess steam and humidity.
Proper insulation: When you have good insulation it helps prevent condensation as well as stabilising the quality of indoor air.
Maintaining HVAC systems: As always, servicing your system regularly means it will work more efficiently and regulate temperature and humidity.
Benefits of balanced indoor humidity
Balanced humidity improves health, comfort, and protects household items. Let’s look at these in more detail:
Health benefits: When you have good humidity levels in the home it will have a number of health benefits including reducing the risk of asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems which are caused by damp or dry conditions.
Improved comfort: When humidity is controlled effectively it can help prevent the kind of uncomfortable sticky air in summer as well as unpleasantly dry conditions during winter.
Mould and allergen prevention: If you are keeping humidity within safe levels it will help reduce the chances of mould and dust mites.
Protection for furniture and electronics: Your property can be damaged by humidity, so ensuring you have it under control will stop damage to wood, leather, and electronics.
FAQs about controlling humidity at home
What is the ideal indoor humidity level for comfort?
The ideal range is 30% to 50%, according to most official agencies. When there is a good level of humidity it helps support health, comfort, and protects your household.
Can plants help control humidity in a home?
Yes, certain houseplants can absorb moisture, reducing humidity in a natural way. But if you’re in a very humid climate then mechanical solutions are more effective.
Do air conditioners reduce humidity effectively?
Yes, most air conditioners remove some humidity as they cool, but Daikin’s HVAC systems with built-in humidity control will offer better results.
How do I know if my home needs a dehumidifier or a humidifier?
If your home feels damp, smells musty, or you are seeing mould appear, then you probably need a dehumidifier. If your skin, throat, or wood floors feel dry, then a humidifier may help.
About Daikin
With over a century of experience, Daikin is a trusted global leader in HVAC technology, offering both humidifiers and dehumidifiers for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Known for their energy efficiency, durability, and advanced control systems, Daikin systems are a preferred choice for projects worldwide.
To ensure your home benefits from optimal levels of humidity, speak to Daikin to find out about the latest innovative solutions supported by our extensive expertise and reliable service.
