Humidity is defined as the amount of moisture or water vapour in the air. When we have too little or too much humidity in our homes it can cause problems in our homes and to our health.

Hygrometer

A good way to read the humidity in your home is to purchase a hygrometer. This device can be digital or manual. It is a device that tells you exactly how much vapour is in the air. A comfortable level of humidity will be between 40% and 50% within your home.

Signs of Too Much Humidity

Humidity over 50% will often time be too much humidity and can be very uncomfortable. Too much humidity in your home will cause you to feel muggy, hot and stuffy. Also, look for these signs to help you know if it is too humid:

• Musty or mildew odours
• Allergies acting up
• Visible condensation on walls or windows
• Feeling sweaty or sticky
• Wallpaper peeling

Signs of Too Little Humidity

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with a dry throat or itchy skin? When we have very little moisture in the air we tend to feel dry. If the humidity goes below 40% we start seeing signs of too little humidity. These signs include:

• Dry itchy skin
• Cracked Lips
• Nose bleeds
• Wood floors, bannisters or cabinets may start cracking
• Increase in static electricity
• Paint can start to chip

Check your hygrometer daily to see if you have the right humidity in your home. If your home has too much humidity consider turning on a dehumidifier which will reduce the water vapour in your home. If you are experiencing too little humidity you can boil some water on your stove or turn on a humidifier which will add moisture to the air.

Also, don’t forget your heating and cooling system in your home may help control the humidity levels. If you have an older HVAC system considered upgrading to a new one to help give your home the proper humidity levels.