Humidity and House Maintenance: Levels, Impact and Control

Written By Adam Paul - Waterproofing Expert

The humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air. Humidity is mainly 3 types such as absolute humidity, relative humidity, and specific humidity. Among them, relative humidity is more important because it can be changed with the temperature. Hence, it can cause many structural and human problems. The relative humidity should be between 30% and 60% to maintain a house in good condition.

Humidity and moisture are two different scenarios. The relative humidity can be changed with the temperature. There is an inversely proportional relationship between humidity and temperature. In short, When the temperature increases, humidity can decrease. When the temperature drops, the humidity increases.

When we consider indoor humidity, the ideal indoor humidity of a house should be between 40% and 60%. If the humidity is lower, it causes dehydration and dry skin. When it goes up, it tends to grow mold and mildew and health problems. Hence, you should maintain the room humidity to around 50%. You can measure the humidity by using a hydrometer.

The humidity level can increase due to reasons such as weather conditions, poor ventilation, leaking pipes, showering and bathing, drying clothes indoors, growing house plants indoors, and building a wet basement and crawl space.

Due to these reasons, there are 9 main problems in the house such as mold and mildew growth, wood rotting, insulation damage, paint and wallpaper damage, window condensation, odor problems, electric system damage, and metal corrosion.

You can follow the 7 methods below to decrease the humidity level in the house, such as using a dehumidifier, improving ventilation, sealing the leaks, limiting indoor plants, using moisture absorbers, using fans, and using an air conditioner. When you control the humidity properly, you can stay safe and protect the property over time.

What is the Definition of the Humidity?

The definition of humidity is the amount of water vapour present in the air. Humidity is usually expressed as a percentage. It is measured by using a hydrometer. The SI unit of the humidity is g/m3. The comfortable humidity range for humans is typically between 30% and 60%. The humidity level can vary with the weather, temperature, and location.

The humidity level can be increased and decreased. If the humidity level is too low, it can cause dry skin, irritate the nasal passages and throat, and make the eyes itchy. If the humidity is too high, it can make the air feel stuffy or damp and can cause condensation on walls and floors, which can lead to mold growth. Hence it is important to maintain the normal humidity level in the house always.

Are Humidity and Moisture Different?

Yes, humidity and moisture are different. Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air while moisture is the presence or amount of liquid water.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air. It is usually expressed as a percentage. It expresses the amount of moisture the air is holding compared to the maximum amount it could hold at a particular temperature.

On the other hand, moisture is the presence or amount of liquid, especially water, in a substance, object, or environment. It can be present in different formations such as in the soil, in the air, or within objects like clothes or food.

What are the 3 Types of Humidity?

The humidity is mainly 3 types such as absolute humidity, relative humidity and specific humidity.

Absolute humidity: Absolute humidity is a measurement that describes the mass of water vapor per unit volume of air. It is expressed in grams of moisture per cubic meter of air (g/m3). This measurement is not affected by temperature or pressure unlike relative humidity. It's used in weather forecasting and understanding climate.

Relative humidity: Relative humidity is a measurement of the amount of moisture in the air compared to the maximum amount of moisture the air could hold at the same temperature. It is expressed as a percentage (%). For example, if the air is holding half the moisture it could potentially hold, the relative humidity is 50%. High relative humidity indicates that the air is saturated with water vapor, and can often create uncomfortable dampness.

Specific humidity: Specific humidity is a measurement that represents the actual amount of moisture in the air, irrespective of the temperature. It is usually expressed in grams of water vapor per kilogram of air. Unlike relative humidity, the specific humidity doesn't change with temperature or pressure; it only changes when water is added or removed from the air.

What is the Relationship Between Humidity and Temperature?

There is an inversely proportional relationship between humidity and temperature. When temperature increases, the air's capacity to hold water vapor also increases, so the humidity may decrease even if the amount of water vapor stays the same. When the temperature drops, the capacity of the air to hold water vapor decreases, and the humidity increases

As a result of this high humidity often makes people feel uncomfortable, especially in hot weather while low humidity can cause dry skin and other discomforts. In summer, the air's capacity to hold water vapor is higher than in winter, so the humidity is often lower in summer than in winter

What is the Ideal Indoor Humidity Level of a House?

According to the National Library of Medicine, the ideal indoor humidity of a house should be between 30% and 50%. You can observe skin drying, respiratory problems, wood damage, static electricity and stunted growth of the plants when the ideal indoor humidity is below the 30% skin will dry.

What is the Too Much Humidity Level in the House?

The too much humidity level in the house is above 60% of the relative humidity. When the humidity reaches above 60%, most species of fungi are grown successfully.

Too much humidity can cause dampness and condensation on walls, windows, and other surfaces. When this occurs over time, this can cause peeling or chip paint, warp wooden furniture, and even compromise the structural integrity of the house by supporting rot in wooden building materials. Additionally, higher humidity levels can increase the formation of acids and salts from sulfur and nitrogen dioxide, and the rate of formation of ozone.

Why is the Humidity Level Increase in the House?

The humidity level in the house can be increased due to environmental and human activities. If the indoor humidity level is so high it will have many impacts for both humans and structure. The humidity level in the house can be increased due to the below 6 reasons.

Weather conditions: During certain seasons, such as summer or winter, the air can be naturally more humid. This can increase the humidity levels in your home
Poor ventilation: Insufficient ventilation in the house can trap moisture and increase humidity levels. This can occur in rooms without windows or in homes without proper ventilation systems.
Leaking pipes or plumbing issues: The excess moisture due to leaking pipes and plumbing issues can contribute to increase the indoor humidity in the house.
Cooking steam - Cooking steam is one of the reasons for rising the humidity level in the house.
Showering and bathing: Hot showers or baths can produce steam. It can add moisture to the air and increase humidity levels in the bathroom.
Drying clothes indoor: When you dry clothes indoors without proper ventilation can increase humidity levels in the house. It contributes to evaporating the water from the wet clothes into the air that cause to increase the indoor humidity.
Growing house plants indoors: When you grow house plants indoor it will cause to increase the humidity in the house. Because plants release moisture through a process called transpiration, which adds moisture to the air.
Wet basement and crawl space: If your basement or crawl space is damp or prone to water leakage, the excess moisture can increase humidity levels in your home.

What Are the 9 Humidity Problems in House Structure?

Humidity in the house can cause many problems and negative effects in the house. The humidity is a problem when the humidity level goes up more than 60% of relative humidity level. In his moisture condition, lots of bacteria and fungi are growing and materials tend to react with water. As a result of this many humidity problems occur when it goes more than 60%. Below is the list of problems that can occur when it goes more than 60%.

Mold and mildew growth due to higher humidity: Mold and mildew growth is the most common problem of high humidity levels. Mold and mildew growth not only damages the house structure but also causes health issues like allergies and respiratory problems.
Wood rotting due to humidity: The excessive moisture can cause wooden parts in the house, such as furniture, roofings, purlins, floors, walls, and beams, to slowly rot. This can significantly weaken the structure of the house and lead to costly repairs.
Damage the Insulation: High moisture levels can also damage the insulation in walls and attics. It reduces the effectiveness and increasing energy costs for indoor heating and cooling.
Paint and wallpaper damage: Humidity can cause paint to peel and wallpaper to loosen and bubble.
Condensation on windows: When the humidity is high, condensation can accumulate on windows. It can lead to wood rot and mold growth around the window frames.
Insect Infestation: Many pests, like termites, cockroaches, and ants, are attracted to humid environments. These pests damage structures and building materials such as wood.
Odor problems: High humidity levels can raise the odour problem. Fungi and other microbacteria produce harmful gas in high humidity.
Electrical system damage: Electrical systems can be damaged by corrode wiring, outlets, and fixtures. These problems lead to potential electrical failures or fires.
Metal corrosion in the house: Metal can corrode due to higher humidity levels. Hence construction metals, furniture, and appliances can be easily damaged by the humidity.

What are the 7 Methods to Decrease the Humidity in the House?

You can follow the below 7 methods to reduce the humidity level in the house. The humidity should not in a lowered level. It should be controlled and in the normal level. If the humidity level goes up, you should check first and decrease it to minimize the impact. Below 7 methods will help you to control the indoor humidity level.

Install waterproofing membrane: To minimize the humidity impact of the house you should do basement waterproofing and bathroom waterproofing by installing a waterproofing membrane. Because those are the most water consumed areas in the home that cause yo produce higher humidity.
Use a dehumidifier: Dehumidifiers are specially designed to remove excess humidity from the air. Place them in areas of your house that are often the most humid, like the basement, kitchen, or bathroom.
Improve ventilation: You can improve the ventilation in high-humidity areas in your home such as your kitchen, bathroom or basement by using exhaust fans or opening windows.
Seal the leaks: Check for any leaks in your walls, roof, or foundation that might be letting in humid air. Sealing these can significantly reduce the amount of humidity in your home.
Limit indoor plants: Plants release moisture into the air as they breathe. Hence, plants will increase the humidity. So you should try to limit the number of plants in your home or move them into a single room.
Use moisture absorbers: You can use moisture absorbers like silica gel or charcoal briquettes to absorb the excess moisture in the house as well as you can use moisture barriers to minimize the moisture entering in the house.
Use fans: Using fans can increase the ventilation in the house. It can use to control the indoor humidity successfully.
Use an air conditioner: Air conditioners can remove the excess moisture in the room. Hence it will help to control the humidity in the room.