How pleasant the indoor air in your home feels is often related to humidity. Is the humidity in the house too high or too low? Then it can cause ailments and health problems as well as damage to your home. But what is the ideal humidity level? And how do you check it?

What is humidity?

By (relative) humidity we mean the number of particles of water vapor circulating in the air at any given time. A good humidity is between 40% and 60%. The air at that time consists between 40% and 60% of particles of water vapor. The ideal level of humidity in the house is 50%.

What if the humidity in the house is not right?

There are two possible scenarios: the humidity in the home can be either too low or too high. Each of these situations has its own consequences.

What are the consequences of too low humidity?

When humidity is too low, the air in the house is too dry and the relative humidity is below 40%. Low humidity is especially common in winter because the cold air contains less moisture. Typically, too low humidity can cause the following:

  • Because of dry air, you may suffer from minor ailments such as cracks in your lips, dry eyes, headaches and irritation to your mucous membranes or your airways (which manifests as an itchy cough). It can also make it harder for you to concentrate and make you more tired.
  • It can also cause minor damage in your home in the form of cracks in woodwork, such as the floor or furniture.

Nevertheless, too low humidity in the home is not a major problem. The problems really start when the humidity is too high.

What are the consequences of excessive humidity in the home?

Is your humidity too high? Then the relative humidity is higher than 60%. There are many different possible causes for this, many of which are not always easy to detect. Everyday activities from washing, cooking, ironing to simply breathing and perspiring contribute to increased humidity. In fact, scientific studies show that an average family produces up to 15 liters of excess moisture per day. That's not nothing! But an underlying moisture problem can also cause humidity levels in the home to be too high.

The consequences of too high humidity in your home are worse than those of too low humidity; both for your home and for your own health.

  • You will often notice condensation moisture in heated spaces such as your living room or bathroom. There is always a movement of air between a warm and unheated room. Because of the lack of (mechanical) ventilation, this moist air will condense in the colder rooms, and more specifically on cold surfaces.
  • Damage to the house may follow. This usually comes in the form of mold on the walls, loose plaster or wallpaper, wood rot and dust mites and other pests popping up. Such issues are especially prevalent in the bathroom. That air always has high humidity - due to your washing - and is very prone to problems such as dampness and mold. So when you know that some mold in the home secretes extremely toxic substances, you want to avoid it at all costs.
  • Also, the air smells musty.
  • In addition, your energy bill may be skyrocketing. This is because a humid room is much more difficult to heat than a room with normal humidity. Studies show that you need to use 20% more energy to heat a humid room.
  • Are you already suffering from underlying conditions? Then excessive humidity can cause a lot of health problems. Excessive humidity worsens conditions such as rheumatism or asthma, dust mites can trigger allergies, and children, the elderly or those with weaker immune systems can suffer additional respiratory and pulmonary problems. Especially since excessive humidity means there is not enough fresh air and oxygen in the air.

So it is not a luxury to do something if you suffer from excessive humidity in your home.

Measuring humidity

You can measure the humidity in your home yourself using a hygrometer. This is a measuring instrument specifically designed to measure humidity levels in the home. This can help you understand humidity levels in the indoor environment.

To ensure an accurate reading, it is important to place the hygrometer correctly. You obviously want to get a representative reading of the humidity so that you can take appropriate action if the air turns out to be too dry or too humid. That's why we recommend not placing the hygrometer on the wall of an exterior wall or near a window. This is because the humidity near external walls and windows often differs somewhat from the rest of the house.

A hygrometer is available these days for as little as 15 euros. Usually these handy devices also have other useful functions.

Humidity and health

How can I optimize humidity in my home?

Tips for better humidity in the home

  • Ventilating your home adequately is always a good idea. Open your windows for about 15 minutes daily, and ventilate extra when cooking or showering.
  • If the increased humidity is confined to one room (for example, a damp bathroom or bedroom), an exhaust system or dehumidifier can help.
  • Always turn on your cooker hood while cooking and also clean it regularly.
  • Cook with lids as much as possible, try to dry your laundry outside as much as possible, and wait a while to open your dishwasher when it's done.
  • Sometimes an abnormal humidity in your home is not caused by poor ventilation, but by an underlying moisture problem. In such cases, it is advisable to take appropriate moisture control measures in addition to your ventilation system. It is wise to enlist the expertise of a professional for this purpose.

A universal and definitive solution: balanced ventilation

The best optimal solution, in other words the solution that guarantees the best humidity in the home, is to install a mechanical ventilation system, preferably a balanced ventilation. With a balance ventilation, you have total control over the air in your home. Does the indoor air have excessive humidity? Then you can easily take that air outside and bring in fresh air. Not only does this help control the number of water vapor particles in the air in your home, but it also provides fresh air with plenty of oxygen. Things that allow you to breathe better and thus make your lungs and airways less likely to suffer.

Are you suffering from excessive humidity somewhere in Flanders? Contact Aquaconsult now and our experts will be happy to help you.