How much humidity at home is too much?
Excess moisture in the air will lead to condensation, damp, and mold growth in the worst cases. Keep reading and we’ll bring you up to speed!
Because of the complex and nuanced nature of indoor humidity, not to mention relative humidity, we want to talk you through everything so you never have to go anywhere else.
What is humidity?
Indoor humidity, sometimes referred to as relative humidity, is a measure of the water vapour content in the air. The higher the number (typically as expressed as a percentage from 0-100) the more moisture there is in the air.
Just like a sponge will saturate once it takes on enough water, so too does the air. Humid air cannot exceed more than 100% humidity because there are no air molecules to support the water vapour.
What’s the ideal humidity level in a UK home?
Indoor humidity levels will fluctuate throughout the year, depending on the weather. Dry air in the summer and cold air in the winter can have a strong effect on the humidity levels, as can sources of water and moisture in any given room.
Dry air will make you feel itchy and can cause static shocks, while warm, moist air will make you feel lethargic and sweaty. The indoor humidity levels for comfort are typically in the 40-60% range.
Does high humidity damage your home?
When the relative humidity exceeds 65% it can fuel the proliferation of dust mites, trap too much moisture resulting in aesthetic damage to walls, damage the structural integrity if left untreated, and even create a breeding ground for black mould growth.
Many of these issues will trigger allergy symptoms and breathing issues if the excessive moisture and humidity in your home are left untreated and your property is not properly ventilated.
How can you manage humidity levels effectively?
Excess moisture levels and high humidity can be combated by a combination of air conditioning, a stand-alone dehumidifier, and better ventilation. To address potential problems with indoor humidity levels and damp, warm air year-round, you will have to adapt to the seasons.
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as keeping a constant temperature, cracking open windows, and running your dehumidifier through the night. You may well need the services of a damp proofing professional, especially if persistent high humidity levels are causing you to experience respiratory issues.
Can indoor humidity be too low?
If the humidity levels in your house drop below 40%, you are in what is known as the low humidity band of operation. Low indoor humidity occurs when excess moisture is removed from the air and is typically linked to a low external temperature.
While excess humidity is not a good thing, and air conditioning can go some way to addressing it, running your air conditioner to the point where the air quality drops because it will be too dry causes issues:
- Low water vapour in the air can cause dry skin that peels and flakes when scratched
- Reducing humidity causes wooden surfaces and joints to shrink
- Running an AC unit to excess will have a dramatic impact on your electric bill
- Persistent itchy skin will make you feel uncomfortable and make it hard to sleep at night
Common symptoms such as dry, itchy eyes and repeated static shocks are also signs that the air conditioning or dehumidifier has removed too much moisture from the air.
Make sure such devices are working properly, talk to a Federation of Damp specialist, and make sure you’re not running a short-term solution when there are, in fact, underlying problems elsewhere.
If you do these three things as soon as possible, you’ll get the most comfortable indoor humidity levels in your home.
Should you fix high indoor humidity yourself?
This very much depends on how damaging the high relative humidity levels are to your health and the integrity of your property.
Commonly, you will find that issues with indoor humidity in the bathroom and kitchen can be fixed relatively easily. High humidity will spike when you run a hot bath or cook on the hob downstairs, causing the relative humidity to increase.
Spikes of this type are highly localised and can be solved with the installation of an extractor fan. But if you have high humidity as a result of damp, you will need a damp proof course to put things right. Hiring an expert to fix high humidity levels at their roots will:
- Improve your air quality in a way that simply installing an air conditioner never can
- Combat humidity in your home in a long-term way, rather than trying to treat damp air inside with a portable dehumidifier
- Make sure that you can look after your walls by doing more than simply turning up the heating, having your home constantly hot, and wiping away condensation
Knowing how much to warm your house in winter and how hot to set your heating will help you create a comfy and cosy atmosphere. You will be able to maintain your house in the summer as well by considering how to control the temperature in a way that doesn’t draw too much moisture from the air.
Thinking about the issue as one of balancing hot and cold air temperatures throughout the year with the moisture content will ensure that things don’t get too humid as well as too dry.
Is 70% humidity too high for a house?
Yes, this has exceeded the maximum amount of humidity we would recommend (60%) and will start to cause a number of issues:
- Flaky paint that peels off the walls
- Less energy-efficient heating and cooling
- Damage to soft furnishings in the shape of mould growth
- Too much moisture will increase humidity to the point you sweat
Keeping your humidity levels within the 40-60% range will make sure dust mites thrive no more, damp is under control, and a musty smell never starts to spread.
What happens if the humidity is too high in your house?
Too much humidity in your home will promote mould growth, feed dust mites, and make it feel like you have too much warm air as it will trap the heat from the outside.
Can high humidity cause damp?
Without a doubt! Reducing humidity levels so they are within the 40-60% recommended by Federation of Damp professionals protects soft furnishings, soft toys, interior decor, and even the structural integrity of your property.
