Humidity
The colder is gets, the higher our thermostats are set to keep our homes cozy and warm. But what about our humidity levels? The more your furnace runs, the more affect on the humidity within our homes.
Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy find that humidity levels should be kept between 30% to 60% within a home. At high humidity, sweating is less effective, and we feel hotter. At low humidity, the risk for nosebleeds increases, especially during cold winter seasons.
Some people experience difficulty breathing in high humidity environments. Some cases may possibly be related to respiratory conditions such as asthma, while others may be the product of anxiety. Sufferers will often hyperventilate in response, causing sensations of numbness, faintness, and loss of concentration, among others.
Too little humidity can also have an effect on your electronics.
How do we check what the humidity is in our home?
A small, inexpensive and easy-to-use instrument called a hygrometer (sometimes referred to as a humidity sensor or relative humidity indicator) can measure the humidity level in your house and confirm whether the house has too much or too little humidity. Once you know for sure, you can decide whether any action is required and, if so, what action.
Whats next?
Depending on your results you may wish to purchase a humidifier or a dehumidifier.
Most furnaces have a humidifier built in. But if you find that you are waking up each morning with symptoms of low humidity or that the room you sleep in has a low reading, a supplemental humidifier may prove useful.
A dehumidifier on the other hand draws humidity from the air. So if you have found that from your symptoms or by using a hygrometer that the air in your home has a high level of humidity, a dehumidifier may be the answer for you!
For further information about household humidity and hygrometers, click on
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/momo/momo_002.cfm
The information contained in this article has been obtained from the following sources:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
http://www.wikipedia.org