"Keep your indoor relative humidity below 50 percent to avoid growth of mold and dust mites."- Advice from the Mayo Clinic for allergy sufferers.
But what exactly is relative humidity? Relative humidity (symbolized by RH) is a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air expressed as a percentage of how much water vapor the air could hold. Yikes! That sounds like high school something-or-other... So, simply speaking, if relative humidity is 100%, then it's raining.
Most people are comfortable with an indoor relative humidity of 45 to 50%. When relative humidity goes above 50%, the excess moisture in the air makes it easier for mold, mildew, and the dust mite population to grow and spread.
When you control your indoor humidity, you can not only control allergy and asthma triggers, but you can also make your home's climate more comfortable (and save money on heating and cooling bills). You can monitor your relative humidity using a simple hygrometer.
How Can You Control Indoor Relative Humidity?
Too-High Humidity
We all know what that feels like, sticky, hot, and uncomfortable. Not only does it promote unwanted conditions in your home, but setting your thermostat to a lower temperature to control it costs money and doesn't always get the job done.
Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, remove excess moisture from the air, not only making it difficult for mold and dust mites to thrive, but cooling your air as well. They won't replace the effectiveness of an air conditioner, especially in the South where temperatures can soar in the summer, but they will remove all the extra moisture from the air.
Too-Low Humidity
In other words, dry air. This is when the RH falls below about 30%. In winter, when air is normally drier, you can alleviate annoying symptoms like itchy skin, irritated nasal passages, and chapped lips by using a humidifier. Humidifiers also make your indoor air feel warmer allowing you to reduce your thermostat stetting and save money on heating bills.
