Relative Humidity Control The Relative Humidity (RH) measurement on a thermostat is the level of moisture in the air. During the winter, RH levels indoors should be 40 percent or lower. It can rise to over 60 percent in the warmer months.
Set the thermostat to a consistent temperature, even at 78°F, to keep humidity levels in check. Invest in a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are designed to extract excess moisture from the air. Place one in areas like bathrooms, basements, or laundry rooms for best results.
Dry mode helps dehumidify your home, making it more comfortable and reducing the exhaustion and perspiration that come with high humidity levels. By drawing out excess moisture, this feature creates a cosy living space that's easy on the body. Say goodbye to the discomfort of a humid environment.
That's why experts recommend you keep humidity levels in your home at 55% or lower. Mold needs 55% or higher humidity in order to grow. Also, remember that reducing humidity below 30% isn't a good idea, either. This can cause health problems, making your eyes nose and skin dry, and exasperate lung and skin conditions.
Humidity control in the house is important to maintaining Healthy Humidity. The effects of house humidity can have a major impact on the way you feel. The American Society of Heating Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning Engineers recommends keeping your home's relative humidity between 40–60%.
Keep the Right Temperature
During the summer, your thermostat should be between 72 and 78 degrees. If your thermostat has an “auto” setting, it can help cool your system's evaporator coils and dehumidify the air.
Is 25% humidity too low? Yes. The standard for indoor humidity is between 40–60%.
The temperature in your home
Keep doors of unheated rooms open to allow some heat into them. Ideally your home should be heated between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, but older people, babies and people who are less mobile may need it to be warmer.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
Set the Right Humidity
To get your manually-controlled dehumidifier up and running, set its humidity level. You want it set at 30 – 50%. If there's too much moisture, you'll get dampness and mould. If there's too little moisture, your home will be too dry and attract bacteria.
By activating "Dry Mode", the AC system dehumidifies the air, removing excess moisture and creating a more pleasant and breathable indoor environment. Enhanced Comfort: High humidity can negatively impact the perception of temperature, making it feel warmer than it actually is.
Leaving your AC fan set to ON allows the moisture in your home to accumulate and reach mold-growing levels of humidity. To ensure that you and your family stay cool and healthy this summer, keep your AC thermostat fan setting to AUTO.
In the summer when the outside temperature is high, and humidity rises, use your air conditioner humidity setting (setting your AC to cooling mode) to reduce your home's overall temperature and encourage humidity levels to drop.
Turning your thermostat to the wrong setting by focusing solely on temperature rather than humidity is a common mistake. For example, running your AC unit in fan mode might increase the airflow in your home, but it will also increase the humidity level.
While everyone's home comfort preferences will vary, we recommend a dehumidistat setting between 35 and 45 percent for Summer.
While it is not a substitute for a dehumidifier, it helps to decrease the humidity level in your home by continuing to run your cooling beyond your setpoint. Since air conditioning naturally removes humidity from the air, running a longer cooling cycle will bring down the humidity level in your home.
Best Humidity for Sleeping
The best relative humidity for sleeping and other indoor activities has been debated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best indoor relative humidity falls between 30% and 50%, and it should never exceed 60%. Other studies suggest 40% to 60% is a better range.
Ceiling fans can be extremely beneficial in reducing humidity in a home because they are able to keep air circulating across an entire room and from the top down. Even a fan spinning at a low speed can help drastically with air circulation and lowering humidity.
Relative humidity levels above 70 percent appear to be optimal for fungal or mold spore growth.
The best way to avoid damp and mould is by keeping your room temperature and humidity at the optimum levels. Try to maintain a consistent room temperature of around 20 °C, and avoid letting it drop below 16 °C. The humidity should be between 30 and 60%, any higher and there is too much moisture in the air.
In general, it's recommended to set your thermostat to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This may seem high compared to the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but it'll help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities – where your plumbing is often located – safely above freezing temperatures.
Dry air is simply air that is significantly lacking moisture. Equally important, air with low relative humidity is generally under 40%. That means dry air falls below the ideal 40% to 60% indoor humidity range. Generally speaking, when humidity levels are below this range, the air is noticeably dry.
Ideal humidity – and signs of trouble
Every home is different, but a level between 30 and 40 per cent humidity is typically ideal for keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter, without leaving condensation on the windows. In the summer, that level can be higher, between 50 and 60 per cent.