Whilst the nasty effects of high humidity are widely reported, the dangers and problems associated with low humidity levels have fell quietly under the radar. However, unbeknownst to many, low humidity within a property can cause just as many difficulties for homeowners than excessive moisture levels.
Low humidity, also known as ‘dry air’, can cause a number of side effects to your health and home. Whilst mould needs humidity to thrive, humidity levels that fall below the recommended 40% minimum can make static electricity more prominent and cause wooden furniture and flooring to crack and deteriorate. On the health front, continuous exposure to low humidity can cause sinus infections, dry hair, itchy skin, irritation and nose bleeds. Dry air can also leave your body more vulnerable to flu, colds and other viruses as well as exacerbating allergies and existing medical problems.
With the following tips you can make your indoor humidity levels much more manageable and reduce the unpleasant side effects that go hand-in-hand with a dry home atmosphere…
1. Introduce plant life
Adding some lush foliage to your property can provide a natural way to get humidity levels back to their recommended levels. As well as introducing a beautiful decorative feature to your home, house plants release moisture to purify and humidify the air around you.
Be careful not to go overboard, lots of houseplants can cause high humidity. Look out for the development of mould on the plants, which is a tell-tale sign that moisture levels have peaked.
2. Do your laundry indoors
Drying laundry indoors can reinstate moisture that has been lost from your home’s atmosphere and best of all, it’s cheap and easy to do! Invest in a drying rack and hang your wet clothing around the home and in particularly parched rooms to dry. This will save you plenty of cash on your utility bill!
3. Use a humidifier
Humidifiers are handy devices that can save a lot of time and effort when improving humidity levels, especially at this time of year, when low indoor moisture is particularly common due to the cooler weather. Humidifiers offer excellent value for money and are also available in different capacities to cater to rooms of all sizes and meet your home’s exacting humidity requirements.
4. Get cooking
Cooking is another everyday task that can inject some much needed humidity into your home. During cooking keep windows to the outdoors sealed and open the doors throughout your home to let the moisture circulate. The kitchen is particularly moisture prone, so use this to your advantage by giving dry areas of your home the humidity they need, the natural way.
The same applies in your bathroom, showering and bathing create a lot of moisture so open the bathroom door straight after to allow the humidity to escape.
5. Keep your home air tight
Opening windows during winter when low humidity is particularly prevalent will only allow any humidity created naturally or via a humidifier to escape. Whilst every home needs the right level of ventilation, reducing the flow of outside air into your home during the cooler months can keep humidity levels at the recommended levels.
This post was written by Martin Davies from the Airandwatercentre.com. As the UK’s largest humidification specialist, they work in more than 80 countries to improve the atmosphere of both residential and commercial property.