AMERICAN STANDARD ● APRILAIRE

Humidity and Home Comfort

Headaches, sore throats, sore eyes, skin irritation, and contact-lens discomfort are all symptoms of a dry indoor environment.  Unfortunately, we are not well equipped to notice a dry atmosphere in the same way as we notice being unusually cold or warm.  We therefore commonly fail to associate discomfort or health problems with low relative humidity (RH).

 

The Ideal Indoor Relative Humidity

The ideal indoor relative humidity is 40 to 60%.  Indoor RH that is maintained at this level helps prevent discomfort and problems of headaches, sore throats, sore eyes, skin irritations, contact-lens discomfort, as well as prevent damage to your belongings.  Maintaining a proper RH is just as important in the work environment as it is in the home.  In this region of the U.S. it is common to find homes and offices that have a too low of an RH in the winter (dry), and too high (damp) in the summer.

 

Effects of Dry Air

One of the first noticeable effects of dry air is electrostatic shocks, which occur below 40% RH and can rapidly become a nuisance.  Above this RH electrostatic shocks are eliminated.

 

Eyes are particularly susceptible to dry air as the thin layer of moisture on the cornea quickly evaporates.  Contact-lens wearers express discomfort that can increase fivefold as RH drops from 45% to 20%, by which stage dust and dirt deposits on lenses increase and cause greater irritation.  If the air is too dry the skin, scalp and hair also begin to suffer.  With no exposure to moisture, skin develops rashes and rough patches, the scalp starts to flake and hair will become brittle.

 

The nose and throat act as a powerful humidifier for inhaled air, and mucous protects against infection by trapping microbes and dust.  They start to dry up below 55% RH, quickly resulting in nasal stuffiness, dry mouth and sore throat.  Persistently low RH increases susceptibility to infections such as colds and coughs.

 

Improving People Comfort

People’s perception of warmth varies with RH.  It is possible to maintain a sensation of warmth with reduced ambient temperature when humidity is at a comfortable level.  This has the net benefit of reducing heating costs.  As employee welfare is an important issue.  Commercially it makes sense, too; comfortable people are more productive.  Incorporating a well-designed humidifier within a building’s heating/cooling system will eliminate dry-air problems.

 

There is a variety of factors to consider in selecting the right humidifier for a building.  Factors include energy use,  water supply, cold water or steam, gas or electric, evaporative or spray, humidifier situation, control compatibility and maintenance needs.

 

How can we help?

To learn more about how Service Air can help you live more comfortably in your home year-around, please contact us.