Test Your Air For Indoor Humidity

 Test Your Air for RH

Test Your Air for RH

In the summer you should make sure you have control over your relative humidity. If you’re unsure what your RH level is, you should test your air for indoor humidity. Humidity is important in all seasons. It can make a massive difference in your health, your skin’s health as well as respiratory and sinus health. Relative humidity is also an important barometer of indoor air quality or indoor air health.

Indoor humidity that is too high can lead to bacterial growth, support viral spread (including COVID-19) and fuels mould growth. It can lead to excessive condensation in cooling coils which can lead to bacterial and viral issues in your HVAC system.

Testing your air for indoor humidity can help you determine if you need to use an air conditioning system or a dehumidifier to control your indoor humidity.

Indoor humidity that is too low also supports bacteria and viruses and can dry out your skin and lead to sinus and respiratory infections. Low humidity contributes to static electricity which can increase indoor dust activity. A dry home is usually a dusty home.

So unless you are testing your air for indoor humidity, you really wont know if you need to increase your relative humidity or decrease your relative humidity.

Poor indoor air quality is directly linked to your level of indoor humidity. We encourage you to get an air testing device that will show you RH%.

For us as occupants, indoor relative humidity and good indoor air quality is 55% RH. Unfortunately, you can’t sustain that in winter time in Southern Ontario or the GTA as you will likely cause condensation on windows, window frames as well as outer walls. Prolonged condensation will lead to mould growth and poor indoor air quality.

RH levels over 45% in winter can lead to condemnation, mould growth and indoor air quality issues.

RH levels indoors under 30% in winter can lead to dry skin and respiratory issues.

RH levels indoors over 65% also leads to mould growth as well as bacterial and viral issues.

There are various ways to decrease indoor relative humidity. Air conditioning in summer and the use of dehumidifiers lowers humidity. In winter central and portable humidifiers can increase humidity. Be careful, you don’t go to high with your indoor humidity as you can grow mould.

Unsure of your indoor humidity. Call us for an indoor air quality test.

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