Humidity Can Be Bad for Your Property and Health

A lot of moisture in the warm air creates a sticky, muggy atmosphere that makes the already hot weather unbearable. Aside from the obvious inconvenience, high humidity also poses health risks, making your home unsafe and damaging your property. Therefore, it is crucial to learn about indoor humidity’s dangers and take corrective measures as soon as possible if you are experiencing them.

High Humidity and Its Effects on Health

The human body exerts considerable effort in hot weather to maintain a comfortable internal temperature. Our bodies sweat to regulate body temperature; we cool off when that sweat evaporates. When humidity is high, however, sweat cannot evaporate and our bodies have to work much harder to maintain homeostasis.

Many people experience the following signs and symptoms when humidity levels are excessive:

• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Heatstroke
• Heat exhaustion
• Hyperthermia
• Muscle cramps
• Sleeplessness

High humidity levels can also impact the air quality inside your home. Unfortunately, harmful bacteria, viruses, mold and other biological agents can flourish in homes with high moisture levels. Pollutants like these can bring on asthma and allergy attacks, respiratory infections and other complications.

Low Humidity and Its Negative Impact on Health

Both high and low humidity levels are undesirable. You and your family may experience severe discomfort if the humidity levels in your home are too low.
Many people experience the following signs and symptoms when humidity levels are too low:

• Dry, cracked skin
• Dry, itchy eyes, throat and nose
• Nosebleeds

Effects of Humidity on Your Property

Humidity can weaken caulks and glues, stain walls and ceilings, cause paint to peel off walls and wood floors to crack and warp. Furthermore, condensation can occur. Water vapor from human activities (such as bathing), infiltration from the outdoor air in hot and humid climates and improper use of humidifiers or dehumidifiers can all contribute to condensation problems in the home. As an added hazard, mold growth caused by condensation can severely compromise the integrity of your home’s structure.

Control Your Indoor Humidity with Dehumidifiers and Humidifiers

Healthy homes are a must. Selecting the right humidification technology is the way to create a more comfortable and healthier environment.

If you are interested in knowing more about dehumidifiers, humidifiers or the effects of humidity, ClimateSmith LLC is here to help. Contact us so we can explain how our home dehumidification systems and humidifiers can improve the wellness of you, your loved ones and anyone else who enters your home.