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Maintaining relative humidity and temperature at ideal levels is the key to staying comfortable in your home. For additional information, read the article.

Relative humidity plays a crucial part in your comfort.

Humidity is the percentage of water vapour present in the air. It strongly influences how comfortable you are both indoors and outdoors. This is because the amount of moisture in the air affects various aspects of your immediate environment including weather and temperature. In addition to that, the health of wildlife and plants around you is also affected by varying humidity levels. In fact, some animals and flora only live in regions with high humidity, while others thrive in areas with low levels of water vapour in the air.

Similarly, humans are also sensitive to humidity. When there is too much moisture in the air, we feel a lot warmer than the actual temperature, making us feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, low humidity can cause skin irritations and even respiratory issues. To ensure that you stay healthy and comfortable, you should do your best to stay in an environment with an ideal level of relative humidity.

To put it simply, relative humidity describes how much moisture in the air is present compared to the amount of vapour the air can hold at any given temperature. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), keeping the relative humidity in your home between 30% to 50% would help you prevent mould growth and avoid various respiratory issues. Keep in mind, this range tends to vary depending on the climate you live in.

How Humidity Affects the Environment

All forms of life including human beings, animals, and plants are affected by humidity significantly. In any given environment, one of the most critical determining factors for which specific flora and fauna can thrive is humidity. For example, relative humidity levels dictate the manner and frequency of plants opening their stomata on the undersides of their leaves. The stomata is a plant’s primary method to transpire, or “breathe”, essentially acting as its cooling mechanism.

Humans are especially sensitive to humidity because of our skin. If we stay in a highly humid environment, we feel a lot warmer than the actual air temperature. Our skin tries to regulate our body heat through perspiration. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to low humidity leads to skin irritation and respiratory issues. 

The Link Between Weather and Humidity

Our planet’s atmosphere contains water in the form of ice crystals, water vapour, or precipitation. As previously mentioned, relative humidity represents the percentage of water vapour in the air that changes when there is a change in air temperature.

For example, a completely saturated packet of air at constant pressure cannot hold any more water molecules, giving it a relative humidity of 100%. As air temperature increases, air can hold more water molecules, and its relative humidity decreases. When temperatures drop, relative humidity increases. High relative humidity of the air occurs when the air temperature approaches the dew point value. Temperature therefore directly relates to the amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold.

Humidity does not affect the weather per se, but it indicates the likelihood of dew, fog, and precipitation. Varying humidity levels can be expressed as absolute, specific, or relative humidity. ​​When there is 100% relative humidity, the air becomes completely saturated with water vapour, rendering it unable to hold any more. This indicates that there’s a strong possibility of rain.

High humidity is also often associated with hurricanes. This is because hurricanes need air with high moisture content to develop. For example, U.S. states such as Texas and Louisiana border the Gulf of Mexico, which brings warm moist air inland. As such, these states have humid climates, which results in tons of rainfall, lots of flooding, and occasional hurricanes.

How is Humidity Measured

Humidity levels are measured through a monitoring device called hygrometer. This device may measure humidity indoors, outdoors, or sometimes both. Hygrometers can help you stay on top of the relative humidity in your home. As such, you can take the steps needed to discourage mould growth, prevent property damage, and keep your family healthy and comfortable.

While the easiest way to measure indoor humidity is by using a hygrometer, there are other ways to monitor how much moisture is in the air indoors. If you are concerned about the humidity levels in your home but you don’t have a hygrometer handy, there are various ways to do it without a specialized humidity sensor such as:

Wet and Dry Bulb Thermometers

This humidity test relies on the difference in temperatures between a dry bulb thermometer and a wet one. To conduct this test, you need to leave one thermometer as is, which will be the dry bulb. Next, get a second thermometer and wrap a moistened cotton ball around the bulb located at the bottom, then fasten it with a rubber band. This will be your wet bulb. Make sure to use room-temperature water when moistening the cotton ball for the second thermometer. After that, place both thermometers side by side on a piece of cardboard.

Leave both thermometers alone for about five to six minutes, then check the temperatures they recorded and take note of the results. Next, you need to calculate the difference between the temperatures of the wet and dry bulbs to find the depression value. Lastly, look up a relative humidity chart online and compare all the results you have found.

Ice Cubes

Aside from keeping your drinks refreshingly cold, ice cubes can also serve as a means for humidity measurement. This is called the ice cube method, which is fairly simple but it will give you a basic idea of your indoor humidity levels. All you will need to perform this humidity test is to get a glass of water and a few ice cubes.

First, fill the glass with water and around two to three ice cubes, and then wait for about four minutes. After that, check the glass if it has condensation forming or dripping on the outside. If so, your humidity levels may be too high. On the other hand, if no condensation is formed at all, then the level of moisture in the air in your home may be excessively low.

Take note that performing this test in your kitchen is not advisable. This is because the vapours that result from cooking in your kitchen can taint the results. It is also recommended to leave the glass in an unoccupied space since the results may also be altered by movement in the room.

Search the Web

Finding out the relative humidity in your area can be as simple as a click of a button. There are many reliable websites that offer comprehensive information about the current weather and humidity.

Maintaining the Ideal Relative Humidity at Home

Because humans are sensitive to low and high humidity levels, staying in an environment with an ideal relative humidity should be your priority. This is especially true since we have spent most of our time inside our homes from the onset of the global pandemic. To make sure you and your family stay comfortable and healthy, you should take steps to keep the relative humidity in your home at just the right level.

Ideally, relative humidity at your home should stay around 30-50%. Research shows that humans typically feel most comfortable with humidity levels within this threshold. However, it is important to note that the ideal humidity level for your home will also be relative to you and your family. It will depend on various factors such as the time of year, the kind of clothes you typically wear, and what humidity levels your family finds most comfortable.

Aside from keeping you comfortable, keeping the relative humidity below 50% also discourages the growth and spread of mould. In addition, the relative humidity in your home should also scale with the absolute humidity outdoors.

Excessively high humidity levels may cause condensation on windows and leave wet stains on walls and ceilings. It can also cause mouldy bathrooms and bring musty odours and a clammy feel to the air. Prolonged exposure to high humidity may lead to rot and structural damage to your home. It can draw in pests and bugs, which are attracted to excess water and condensation.

On the other hand, low humidity in your home causes havoc with woodwork and furniture. You'll notice anything made of wood will start to shrink. There may be some hardwood floor separation and warping, pianos going out of tune, wallpapers peeling at the edges, drawers loosening, and moulding gaps starting to appear.

How Our Bodies React to Low and High Humidity Levels

Falling asleep is a basic biological function, but many of us still find it a difficult task to perform. It may sound ironic, but our bodies need to put in a lot of work subconsciously in order to get some rest. There are a lot of factors that may help or prevent us from sleeping soundly such as climate, weather, light exposure, and other external stimuli.

While many of these factors are beyond your control, there are some things you can manage such as your indoor humidity levels, choice of clothing, and the blankets you use.

Your body relies on perspiration as its primary method of regulating heat. In an environment with high humidity and temperature, your body’s ability to cool itself is disrupted. This can be extremely dangerous and may lead to a heat stroke. People with heart conditions or asthma need to be particularly more careful during such conditions.

High humidity also tends to trigger allergic reactions, encourage the growth of various allergens, and contribute to dust mite problems. The oversaturation of moisture in the air makes it easier for mould to reproduce, which can appear virtually anywhere. People suffering from asthma or other respiratory issues may be compromised because of the propagation of mould spores in their homes. In addition to that, dust mites will also thrive at high humidity levels, presenting as yet another nuisance for people with allergies and asthma.

Low humidity causes various nuances such as dry skin, chapped lips, frizzy hair, scratchy throats, and itchy noses. This level of humidity causes the mucous membranes in your throat and nose to dry out, increasing your discomfort and susceptibility to an array of respiratory illnesses. At low humidity levels, sweat evaporates so quickly that you feel chilled even when you put your thermostat on higher settings.

Autumn Fatigue

The cold season is here, and it is typically a wonderful time of the year. Friends and families can spend time together on holidays. You can finally wear your favourite sweaters outdoors without breaking a sweat. However, not everyone enjoys the colder weather. There are some who experience autumn fatigue.

Autumn fatigue is described as a feeling of sluggishness and tiredness that’s associated with the changing seasons. During autumn and winter, there is a decrease in daylight, which influences the body’s sleep-wake cycle. This is because exposure to light affects the secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland, which regulates the circadian rhythm. As our body is exposed to less light, the production of melatonin is amplified. In turn, people experiencing autumn fatigue feel drained and tired.

To remedy autumn fatigue, it is recommended to stick to a healthy routine. Maintain a sleeping schedule, exercise often, take some vitamin D supplements, and make sure that you are sticking to a balanced diet.

Ideal Bedroom Humidity for a Comfortable Slumber

Staying in a comfortable sleeping environment is critical to enjoying a peaceful slumber. To achieve this goal, you have to pay close attention to the climate in your bedroom. Determining and maintaining the ideal relative humidity in your bedroom should be your top priority. Otherwise, falling and staying asleep becomes an arduous process. At best, you may wake up feeling restless and lethargic the next morning.

While you’re sound asleep, it is recommended that your bedroom humidity is kept between 30-50%. This is because being in a room that is very dry or that has too much moisture in the air can impact the quality of your sleep.

Creating the Best Bed Climate

The best bed climate is described as a comfortable environment in which you can sleep soundly. Resting in such an environment allows you to wake up feeling refreshed, energized, and happy. Ideally, your bed climate must be at the right room temperature with the perfect humidity levels. Comfortable beddings and furnishings also help in creating the best sleeping environment.

When talking about the optimal bed climate, you have to keep in mind your sleep switches—your brain and body temperature. In order for the brain switch of sleep to kick in, you must enable your brain to enter a monotonous state by avoiding any stimuli such as social media, music, videos, or bright lights. You can also try to develop a bedtime routine to ease your brain into a drowsier state.

The body temperature switch is acknowledged by many experts as an important factor in the initiation of sleep. Making sure that your surface and deep body temperatures are aligned will help you doze off easier. There are many ways to maintain the balance between your core body and surface temperature including using electric blankets, managing indoor relative humidity, and keeping your room at a comfortable temperature.

Relax with Wellcare

From heating pads, heating cushions, foot warmers to electric blankets, Wellcare has a wide range of solutions to help you sleep better and keep your feet warm at all times. For your complete warmth, comfort, and safety, these are made using only the finest available materials.

Our products are also equipped with the 4D Dynamic Warmth Flow system (4D DWF). Innovation in electric heating technology, the 4D DWF mimics the human body’s breathing to ensure even heat distribution throughout the surface of the product.