Best Humidity for Home
Prevent Home Damage by Managing High Humidity Levels During Winter Months
As the temperature drops below freezing, it’s essential to recognize the potential danger of increased humidity levels in your home. Often, what appears to be a roof leak is actually condensation buildup in the attic from excessive humidity levels. Factors such as whole-house humidifiers, an abundance of indoor plants, and consistently high indoor temperatures can contribute to dangerous humidity levels.
Whole House Humidifiers
Whole-house humidifiers are a common culprit of high humidity levels. These systems attach to your ductwork and blow moist air into your home. To maintain the proper level of humidity, a homeowner needs to adjust the humidity settings accordingly to the temperature outside. However, if you do not know the exact levels of humidity that are required to deal with changes in the temperature, you will get excessive moisture throughout your house.
If not managed properly, here are some issues that excessive humidity can cause:
Excessive moisture can mimic a roof leak. The moisture that condenses in an attic space may seep down into the ceiling and around light fixtures causing damage or staining to drywall.
Excessive moisture can damage wood. When moisture becomes excessive in the attic, the condensation can cause your roof decking to rot which will compromise the integrity of your roof.
Excessive moisture on the doors and windows stains the finishes. The moisture that condenses on the windows and doors leads to moisture stains ruining the aesthetics of your home.
To prevent home damage, it’s crucial to monitor humidity levels regularly and adjust your humidifier settings accordingly. The best way to determine if your humidity levels are too high is by looking in the attic. If you notice frost on the underside of the roof decking or around the nails or clips, you must lower the humidifier’s output.
Here are some additional steps you can take to manage humidity levels in your home:
- Air seal your home: Properly sealing your home controls airflow and prevents condensation. Since warm air carries more moisture than cool air, air sealing prevents moist indoor air from contacting cold surfaces.
- Use portable humidifier units: Instead of a whole-house humidifier, you could opt for portable humidifiers for each room and use them only as needed.
- Install a hygrometer or humidistat: These devices monitor humidity levels and alert you if they become dangerous.
- Inspect your attic periodically: Check for signs of frost or condensation in your attic every few days.
- Check your doors and windows: If you see condensation developing on them, your humidity level is too high.
If you’ve taken these steps and still have problems with humidity levels, you may need to adjust ventilation or insulation in your attic. Contacting a professional, such as Neighborhood Roofing, can help you determine the best solutions to correct these issues. By managing humidity levels, you can keep your home safe and protected during the winter months.
