Ideal In-Home Humidity Level in Toronto, CA
Have you ever wondered what the ideal in-home humidity level in Toronto, Canada is? If so, you’re certainly not alone. In fact, many people have trouble figuring out the best way to control humidity levels in their home for optimal comfort and health, but for that, they need an accurate answer.
The ideal in-home humidity level is relative to your geographic location. In Toronto, Canada, which is known for its harsh winters, in-home humidity levels should be kept between 25% and 50% for the best comfort. However, the ideal humidity levels in Toronto will vary depending on where you live and what condition your home is in.
5 Signs Your House Has a Poor Humidity Level
Nothing feels quite as “summery” as the cool breeze of a nice indoor humidity level located in your home. The truth is high humidity inside of a home can cause harmful diseases and even put the property at risk for mold or mildew. If left unchecked for too long, the excessive moisture in a house could lead to structural wood rot and corrosion. It’s best to take an early assessment of how much humidity there is inside your home, and to assist you, here are five of the most common signs of a bad humidity level in your Toronto home.
1. You Have Difficulty Breathing
Nearly everyone experiences occasional shortness of breath or a wheezing incident in which the throat feels tight and breath sounds become a bit scratchy. This bronchospasm can be our body’s way of fighting off a cold, asthma flare-ups, allergies, or simply a response to irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke, or perfume. But when it becomes common — or even chronic — high home humidity levels could be to blame. Air with high humidity when inhaled can make the airway feel tight, making breathing difficult or even impossible by making the airway spasm. This results in a wheezing episode, which is often called “hacking,” coughing or spitting up mucus. When the body is exposed to high humidity for extended periods of time, a person may develop chronic lung infection and respiratory failure.
2. You’re Not Sleeping Well
We sleep best in a perfectly balanced climate. Anything that disturbs this delicate balance can result in sleepless nights. Many people don’t realize that the air they breathe at home is just as important to their comfort as the temperature in the room. In fact, according to a new study released by the National Sleep Foundation, continuous exposure to high humidity in the air can make it difficult to sleep. A really dry environment may make it harder to breathe during sleep since you not only have to move air in and out of your nose and mouth but also through your sinuses as well. The dryness can also irritate your throat and make snoring more likely.
3. Window Condensation
Window condensation can be caused by a number of factors, but the most common source is high humidity in the air. When warm indoor air comes in contact with the cooler glass surface, it cools further, and the moisture in the air condenses on the glass. When this happens, the temperature change creates hazy or milky looking “water spots” on the glass, which can sometimes drip down to create puddles on the sill or windowsill below. The amount of condensation is related to the humidity in the air. The higher the humidity, the more moisture condenses on the window.
4. Mold Growth
Mold growth is the most common sign of high humidity levels in the air. Mold spores are always floating around your home in the air, and under the right conditions, they can begin growing on ceiling tiles or wallboard. Mold growth is a serious issue that needs to be addressed right away to prevent health problems – but for that, you need to effectively tackle humidity in your home.
5. Sweating
Feeling moist is a sign that you’re in an environment that’s overly humid. When humidity exceeds 50%, it can make breathing uncomfortable and cause respiratory problems such as asthma, sinus infections, sneezing, coughing, chest pain, and runny nose. It can also aggravate allergies and even migraines. When humidity is high, it’s harder to feel fresh. Your body’s sweat absorbs moisture instead of evaporating it, making you feel clammy. The result is a dripping feeling all over. So, if you’re sweating, be sure to investigate the cause of the humidity in your home.
What Is the Normal Level of Humidity by Outdoor Temperature?
To determine ideal humidity levels in your home, you will need a capable hygrometer. In fact, most studies suggest 25-50% levels as optimal for both health and comfort. These optimal levels may vary slightly depending on the season, so note that in your interpretation. It’s not uncommon for many people to be slightly over-or under- humid, so it’s always best to monitor the humidity levels and adjust the comfort levels as needed.
3 Problems with Too Much Humidity
We all love the humidity when we are lounging on a beach, but when indoors and the air is thick with moisture, it can become more of a nuisance. The fact is: too much or too little humidity can have a powerful effect on your health. Enlisted are three major health problems that can come from too much humidity:
1. Chronic Skin and Throat Irritation
If your skin or throat feels irritated, low humidity can be to blame. You must understand that as soon as the temperatures start to drop, even the slightest fluctuation in relative humidity can take its toll on your skin and respiratory system. If you live in any area prone to dry weather, you should plan ahead for the worst-case scenario by taking precautionary measures as soon as the weatherman predicts temperatures to drop below freezing.
2. Inflamed Dermatitis:
Another common problem caused by high humidity is inflamed skin. These conditions may not be serious, but they are usually extremely uncomfortable and cause many people to miss work or leave early. The irritants cause inflamed, itchy red patches of skin that can become cracked and sometimes form blisters. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to try and get a diagnosis from your physician before proceeding with treatment.
3. Heightened Susceptibility to Infection:
Mucous membranes are a remarkably effective first line of defense. They contain antibodies and immune-signaling cells to stop the virus in its tracks. Unfortunately, when the nose is dry, these defenses do not function properly; the nose becomes more permeable, and viruses are allowed to bypass the nasal defenses and enter the blood. The person gets sick sooner and stays sick longer.
Conclusion
Just like humidity inside a home, optimal air humidity levels outside are not static. Variations in weather, temperature, altitude, and humidity can make every day different and unique. A perfect level of humidity might be different in each location, but it is vital to take preventative measures to ensure optimal health and comfort inside the home.
Tempasure Heating and Air Conditioning
Tornto, ON, Canada