An important factor of healthy air quality is the humidity. If it is too high or too low, problems can arise in the home. But not only that: health problems can also occur.
It is therefore important to monitor the indoor humidity properly and to take action if the level is too high or too low. But, what is a normal humidity in the house?
Why is the humidity in the house important
The air is filled with tiny moisture particles. These must be present in the air in the right amount to ensure a healthy air and living environment in the home.
Wanneer de luchtvochtigheid uit balans is, kunnen er snel problemen ontstaan. Denk hierbij aan schimmelvorming1Relative Humidity Chart, AprilAire.com, meer kans huisstofmijt of lichamelijke klachten.
When the humidity is out of balance, problems can quickly arise. Think of mold formation2Relative Humidity Chart, AprilAire.com, more likely house dust mites or physical complaints.
Problems with too low humidity
Especially in the winter months, the humidity in the home can quickly decrease. This is due to the radiator being turned on more often and because the outside air is often much drier.
When the humidity in the home is too low, the following problems can occur:
- Irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes
- Headache
- Fatigue and concentration problems
- Dehydration of plants
- Dehydration symptoms in pets
- Cracks in wooden furniture, window frames and floors
Especially in the winter months, the humidity in the home can quickly decrease.
Consequences of high humidity
When the humidity is too high, this can also have unpleasant consequences. Excessive humidity can be caused, among other things, by a lot of cooking and washing in the home. For example, a drying rack with wet clothes can cause an enormous increase in the humidity in a room.
Possible consequences of too high humidity in a row:
- Mold formation
- Condensation
- Wood can rot or expand
- Wallpaper and stucco can come off
Normal humidity in the house: between 40% and 60%
But, what is a normal humidity in the house? It should fluctuate between 40% and 60%3Relative humidity of 40% to 60% in buildings, 40to60rh.com. Is the humidity below 40%? Then it is too low. Is the humidity above 60%? Then you talk about too high humidity.
Monitor humidity
To find out what the humidity in your home is at the moment, you can use a humidity monitor. This allows you to see in percentages how high or low the humidity is.
A good example of such a humidity meter is the Tapo T315 Smart Sensor, which was presented at CES 2013 in Las Vegas. IKEA also recently launched an air sensor with a humidity sensor: the new IKEA VINDSTYRKA.
An air purifier can also offer results. For example, if you put an air purifier in the bathroom, it is possible with many models to receive a notification if the humidity is out of balance.
Tips for the ideal humidity
There are a number of actions you can take yourself to maintain or achieve the ideal humidity. For example, you can open a window more often to ensure better ventilation or purchase a device to influence the humidity.
Some tips I would like to give you:
- Ensure good ventilation in the home
- Consider a dehumidifier to lower humidity quickly
- Use lids on the pans when cooking
- Let laundry dry outside
- Consider a humidifier to raise humidity quickly
- Use the hood when cooking
- Dry the bathroom well after use
If you want to automatically keep the humidity at the ideal level, smart home options can also be interesting. This way you can activate a smart home scenario if the humidity is too high or too low.
This is possible, for example, with the new Apple Homepod, which is equipped with a sensor to monitor the humidity. For example, if you connect it to the Smartmi Air Circulator Fan – which is compatible with HomeKit – it can be activated automatically.
References
Bram Tigchelaar
Bram is the co-founder of Purifiertester.com. Together with his brother, he gives advice for cleaner air quality in your home. He combines decades of experience in the world of air quality products with a passion for product testing. Questions about his approach? Feel free to send him a message!
