Humidity measures how moist the air is in any type of environment. The higher the temperature of the air, the more water it can hold. At home, there are many factors that can contribute to higher indoor humidity: taking a hot shower, cooking and even our own perspiration. Washing and drying your clothes can increase humidity, too.
If you aren’t careful about keeping your home’s humidity under control, it can lead to discomfort and negatively impact your health. One way to control your home’s humidity during the summer is to use a high-quality dehumidifier.
How Do We Measure Humidity At Home?
There are two types of measurements for humidity: absolute humidity and relative humidity. The former measures how much moisture is in the air depending on its temperature, while the latter uses a percentage to measure the humidity in relation to the maximum humidity for that temperature. At home, we use relative humidity.
How Does High Relative Humidity Impact Your Health?
High relative humidity can turn your home into a sweatbox while also harming your health, especially if you’re exposed to it for a prolonged period of time. Mold, mildew and dust mites flourish in homes that have high humidity, and they can all trigger allergy symptoms as well as bring about respiratory illnesses like asthma.
High humidity also affects the concentration of volatile organic compounds inside your home. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of VOCs can damage your nervous system and even lead to diseases such as cancer.
How Does a Dehumidifier Help?
Dehumidifiers work by sucking in air from the surrounding area. As the air passes through the dehumidifier, it comes into contact with the cooling coils. The cooling coils extract moisture from the air by lowering its temperature.
Considering how oppressively hot and humid the summers in Rincon, GA, are, it’s especially important to arm your home with a whole-home dehumidifier from Carrier. To create a comfortable environment and protect your health, it’s advised that you maintain a relative humidity between 40 and 50 percent during the summer.
If you’d like to speak with one of our experienced HVAC contractors about improving the humidity in your Georgia home, or if you need an emergency repair, contact Dyess Air & Plumbing at (843) 242-0855.