Ross and Witmer 
Originally published in July 2013, updated in July 2016.
Maintaining the right level of relative humidity in your Charlotte, NC home is very important. Are you aware of what the humidity levels are in your home? If not, now’s the time to learn what humidity is, what the ideal levels should be, and the effects of humidity levels that are too high or low. High indoor humidity can adversely affect your home, health and energy costs. So what should the humidity be in my house?
More Indoor Humidity Equals More Heat
As most people know, high moisture content translates to high humidity. The more humid the air is, the more heat it can hold. By controlling your indoor humidity, you will have more control over the heating and cooling of your home, and the ability to make these processes more efficient.
Determining Ideal Indoor Humidity Levels
In general, indoor humidity levels between 35 and 45 percent are considered acceptable, but when asking the question “What should the humidity be in my house?,” it’s important to take into account the season. If your home is 70 degrees inside and the temperature outside is under 20-40 degrees, you should keep the humidity under 40 percent. For each 10-degree reduction in the outside temperature below 20 degrees, the maximum humidity level inside should decrease by 5 percent.
Why Your Home Humidity Level Matters
Why is it important to control indoor humidity? Not only does proper control make your heating and cooling processes more efficient — which, in turn, saves money — but inadequate control can damage your home, your belongings and your health. When the humidity is too high, it can provide an attractive environment for mold, mildew, bacteria and rot inside your home. On the other hand, winter weather and the heating process in your home can result in very dry air with low humidity. This dry air can be uncomfortable, drying out your skin and causing wooden belongings, floors and frameworks to dry out and crack.
If you need more help in answering the “What should the humidity be in my house?” question, or have other home comfort issues you would like help with, our technicians are experts in indoor air quality and whole home health assessments. We’ve been working hard since 1945 to keep the Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union areas comfortable. Call us today at 704-392-6188 to book an appointment.